A joint statement by Russia and the United States following the talks in Riyadh will be made public on March 25, 2025. This was reported by sources close to the Russian delegation after consultations that lasted more than 12 hours. The meeting, which took place in the capital of Saudi Arabia on March 24, was the next stage in a series of diplomatic efforts aimed at finding ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. According to preliminary data, the Russian side described the talks as expert consultations, emphasizing their technical nature. It is expected that the document prepared by the parties will shed light on the agreements reached and outline further steps.

As the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov stated on March 23, the key topic of discussion was the possible resumption of the Black Sea grain initiative, which ceased to be effective in 2023. According to him, Moscow intends to focus on the issue of safe shipping in the Black Sea, which could facilitate the resumption of food and fuel exports. Peskov noted that Russia is ready to consider the proposals, but did not specify what conditions the Kremlin considers necessary for returning to the agreement, which previously ensured the export of Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports.

On the American side, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz reported on the same day that a telephone conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had resulted in a fundamental agreement to stop attacks on air infrastructure. According to him, Washington sees this as the first step toward a broader ceasefire. Waltz emphasized that in Riyadh, the American delegation planned to discuss the introduction of a naval truce in the Black Sea to ensure the stability of trade routes in the region. The next step, in his opinion, should be to agree on the terms of a ceasefire along the front line and develop a long-term peace plan capable of ending the three-year conflict.

The talks in Saudi Arabia were a continuation of diplomatic activity that began in March 2025. Earlier, on March 11, Ukraine and the United States agreed during a meeting in Jeddah on Kyiv’s readiness for a 30-day ceasefire, subject to Moscow’s consent. At the same time, Washington resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which signaled its intention to increase pressure on Russia. According to Reuters, on March 24 in Riyadh, American and Russian representatives worked on the text of a joint statement, which is expected to reflect a compromise on shipping and a partial truce. However, the Kremlin made it clear in advance that no formal agreements were planned to be signed during the meeting, which Peskov confirmed, calling the talks the beginning of the journey.