Riyadh: The Kremlin announced that both Russia and the United States are committed to reaching a settlement concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as delegations from Moscow and Washington engage in a fresh round of discussions in Saudi Arabia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the mutual desire and readiness of both nations to pursue a peaceful resolution, emphasizing a shared understanding on this matter.

According to Anadolu Agency, Peskov acknowledged the complexity of the settlement process, indicating that numerous aspects still require attention. The discussions in Riyadh encompass topics such as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, proposed by US President Donald Trump, to which Russian President Vladimir Putin has consented. Despite the ongoing negotiations, Putin maintains his directive against targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Peskov assured that Putin would be promptly informed of the negotiation outcomes. The talks in Riyadh focus on exploring the potential implementation of the initiative aimed at ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea, as stated by Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov. This initiative, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was initially signed in July 2022 in Istanbul by Trkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine, to resume grain exports from Ukrainian ports disrupted by the conflict.

Russia withdrew from the grain deal on July 17, 2023, citing unmet conditions of the agreement. Moscow seeks the easing of banking restrictions and permission for fertilizer shipments before reconsidering its participation in the deal.