US Pushes for Black Sea Ceasefire in Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

A U.S. delegation is pursuing a Black Sea ceasefire and a broader halt to the Ukraine-Russia war during key diplomatic meetings in Riyadh. Led by Andrew Peek from the National Security Council and State Department official Michael Anton, the U.S. team met with Ukrainian officials on Sunday and will meet Russian representatives Monday.

These technical talks follow U.S. President Donald Trump's direct conversations with Presidents Zelenskiy and Putin, as part of his renewed effort to end the war. The U.S. aims to establish a maritime ceasefire to secure shipping routes in the Black Sea and explore broader peace terms, including monitoring the current line of control and returning Ukrainian children taken by Russia.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz confirmed that all delegations are present in Riyadh to build confidence and discuss verification and peacekeeping measures. Representing Russia are Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee chair Grigory Karasin and FSB adviser Sergei Beseda. Ukraine’s defense minister, Rustem Umerov, emphasized infrastructure protection as part of the discussions.

Trump has shifted U.S. policy by pausing military aid to Ukraine and initiating bilateral talks with Moscow. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who recently met Putin, said fears of Russian expansionism are overblown and described Putin as seeking peace. However, Trump’s outreach has raised concerns among NATO allies.

Putin, while open to a truce, insists key conditions must be resolved. Last week, he agreed to a 30-day halt on attacks on energy infrastructure but not a full ceasefire. Despite continued strikes and Russian advances in eastern Ukraine, the U.S. hopes to finalize a broader truce by April 20.

The war, ongoing since 2022, has caused massive casualties and destruction, marking Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.