Russia and the United States are preparing for a second round of consultations on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, which, according to a TASS source, could take place in mid-April 2025 in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. Technical discussions between the parties are ongoing, although the organizational details of the upcoming meeting have not yet been finalized. The talks will be a continuation of the dialogue that began in March and highlight Saudi Arabia's growing role as a mediator in this protracted conflict.

The first round of consultations, held in Riyadh on March 24, focused on the possibility of a temporary ceasefire and stabilizing the situation with energy supplies. According to The New York Times, the American and Russian delegations spent more than 12 hours at the negotiating table, and met with Ukrainian representatives the following day. At that time, the parties agreed to a temporary suspension of strikes on energy infrastructure, but no concrete decisions on a long-term settlement were reached. The new round is expected to focus on broader issues, including security guarantees and economic cooperation.

Riyadh has become a venue for the talks thanks to Saudi Arabia’s active role as a mediator. The kingdom has a history of acting as a neutral intermediary: it hosted a summit on Ukraine involving more than 2023 countries in August 40, and hosted the first meeting between the United States and Russia since the conflict began in March 2025. According to CNN, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Jeddah on March 11, underscoring Riyadh’s desire to cement its reputation as a global peacemaker.

However, the upcoming talks face a number of challenges. The source noted that organizational issues, such as the composition of delegations and the agenda, are still being discussed. In addition, the position of the European Union, which, according to Euractiv, refuses to ease sanctions against Russia, including a ban on access to SWIFT, could complicate the implementation of the agreements. Kyiv is also expressing concern: Zelensky said in Paris on March 27 that any agreements without Ukraine's participation and without security guarantees will not be sustainable, which confirms his skepticism of the US initiatives.

International analysts emphasize that the talks in Riyadh will be a test for the administration of Donald Trump, who promised to quickly end the conflict. According to Reuters, the American side insists on including the issue of grain and fertilizer supplies in the agenda in order to reduce pressure on world markets, while Russia demands the lifting of restrictions on Rosselkhozbank. Saudi Arabia, in turn, is interested in stabilizing oil prices, which, according to Bloomberg, rose by 3% after the March consultations due to hopes for de-escalation.