After 12 hours of negotiations, Russia and the US understand each other?
Russian and US technical delegations concluded negotiations after more than 12 hours in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to RIA Novosti, negotiations between the US and Russian “technical delegations” began a closed-door meeting at 10:00 a.m. (Moscow time, 2:00 p.m. Hanoi time) on March 24 in Riyadh, and lasted more than 12 hours.
After the meeting, the delegations of both sides did not contact the press after the end of the talks. However, the sides said that they would issue a joint statement on March 25.
The Russian side was represented by the head of the Federation Council's International Committee Grigory Karasin and adviser to FSB Director Sergei Beseda.
According to the Kremlin, the main topic was the Black Sea initiative, which was discussed during a recent phone call between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Senator Grigory Karasin, a member of the Russian delegation, told RIA Novosti in a telephone interview that the most serious issues are being discussed at the talks between Russian and American expert groups in Riyadh. According to him, the negotiations are going on in a lively manner.
Asked if there was any mutual understanding, the senator replied: "Well, how could there not be, given how long we have been sitting here talking about the most serious issues. So let's continue this conversation."
He did not say whether expert-level meetings between Russia and the US were still possible.
Reuters reported citing a White House source that talks between the US and delegations from Russia and Ukraine are going very well and a positive statement is expected soon.
