Peace Negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. Commence in Riyadh

Today at 8 AM German time, the next round of peace negotiations is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This session marks a significant step as American representatives engage not only with a Ukrainian delegation but also with Russian officials. According to reports by the Russian news agency Tass, the Russian delegation is based at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where discussions with the Americans are also set to occur.

Despite the high stakes, U.S. President Donald Trump's aspirations for a peace agreement seem increasingly elusive. In a recent two-and-a-half-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump reportedly struggled to convince the Kremlin leader to agree to a 30-day ceasefire.

Prior to this meeting, the Kremlin sent out unsettling signals regarding its stance. Reports suggest that the Russian delegation is led by Sergei Besseda, a former head of the FSB's fifth service, who has been criticized for failing to anticipate the resilient Ukrainian defense. Accompanying him is Grigory Karasin, a regional governor and former foreign policy official.

In a notable shift, the Americans are attempting a unique form of diplomacy by arranging for the Ukrainian and Russian delegations to meet separately in Riyadh. Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, explained that the U.S. is organizing technical groups for indirect negotiations. This approach involves asking each side for their conditions before relaying the information back and forth, essentially functioning as shuttle diplomacy.

However, expectations from Moscow have been tempered, with officials indicating that discussions on Monday will primarily focus on the situation in the Black Sea region. The Kremlin has made it clear that they are not prepared to discuss a comprehensive ceasefire or peace terms at this stage, emphasizing the challenges ahead and the considerable work still required.

Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has dampened hopes for immediate relief from sanctions, asserting that Russia should prepare for a prolonged period of sanctions that are intended to restrain the country. He reiterated that there would be no lifting of restrictions until significant changes occur.

Meanwhile, the situation remains tense as Russia continues its military operations against Ukrainian civilians, and a recent airstrike in Kyiv tragically resulted in the death of a child.

From Washington, mixed messages are emerging as well. Trump's chief negotiator, Steve Witkoff, recently expressed optimism following his meeting with Putin, suggesting that the Russian leader is not considering further aggression against other European nations. This assertion, however, raises concerns given Putin's prior assurances about Ukraine before launching an invasion in February 2022.