Ukraine War: What the US talks with Kyiv and Moscow bring in Riad

Despite all previous discussions on the US side with the warring parties Russia and Ukraine about a temporary ceasefire, an end to the fighting is not yet in sight. This should change with new negotiations in Saudi Arabia when US mediators speak to representatives of Russia and Ukraine. The warring parties are separated from each other. The first talks of the Americans with the Ukrainians were already held on Sunday, and the talks of the US representatives with the Russians were pending on Monday morning. There is a lot to clarify – with unclear prospect of success. Some questions and answers to the state of affairs:

What about the negotiations in Riad?

Washington expects Moscow and Kyiv that the weapons will soon be silent. Ukraine confirmed its willingness to a 30-day ceasefire in advance and primarily wants to clarify the technical details. The subject should first be a ceasefire limited to energy systems, whereby President Wolodymyr Selenskyj emphasized to conclude civilian infrastructure.

After a telephone call by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, Moscow emphasized that a fire break for air strikes against energy systems was already in force from the Russian side. Putin had instructed that after the conversation on Tuesday. However, the attacks on alleged military goals in Ukraine with drones and sliding bombs continue. For an end to this blows, it would need further conversations from a Russian point of view – on Moscow conditions. Kiev sees Moscow’s intention to run the war.

From a Russian perspective, Riyadh is also supposed to be an initiative for safe shipping in the Black Sea, in the room the US proposal for a fire break for the water. Russia had terminated an earlier agreement with Türkiye, which was to enable the safe transport of Ukrainian grain over the Black Sea. Ukraine wants security guarantees after the strategically important port of Odessa is repeatedly shot at by the Russians.

Who talks to whom – and how do they run off?

The special envoy sent by US President Donald Trump for Ukraine explained in advance that various teams conducted the negotiations. In addition to his team, there is one from the USA’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, and one from the US State Department. Kellogg said that on the one hand there was talking to the Ukrainians in a room, in another with the Russians. A commuting between the sides is planned.

Ukraine, for example, sends Defense Minister Rustem Umjerow to the talks. President Selenskyj had appointed his head of lawn Andrij Jermak as chief negotiator. Neither Ukrainians nor Russians will send representatives of their foreign ministries this time, as both side announced in advance.

According to Kremlin, Russia is represented in Riad with foreign politician Georgi Karassin, head of the Foreign Committee on the Federation Council, and the secret service Sergei Besseda. The 70 -year -old Besseda is a consultant of the domestic intelligence agency FSB, worked in Kiev in crisis times and is considered a confidante of Kremlin chief Putin. At FSB, he once headed the fifth service, which is responsible for the espionage and control of countries of the former Soviet Union – especially Ukraine – as media reported.

With what objectives against the US negotiators?

A short -term goal of the Americans is a fire break for the Black Sea. Trump and Putin spoke about this a few days ago in their joint phone call and agreed on negotiations. In principle, Washington is concerned with moving Putin to quickly end the war of aggression. Trump had promised a quick war end in the election campaign, but is now hardly progressing. How much influence he actually has on Putin remains uncertain. It is also questionable how exactly Trump’s presentation of the negotiations after his conversations with Putin and Selenskyj is. Afterwards there were contradictory statements of all pages about what was really discussed.

Steve Witkoff, Steve Witkoff, should currently have the closest contact in the Kremlin. He was received by Putin twice and then commented on the Kremlin chief. “I don’t want to sound like an eternal optimist, but I am very, very optimistic that we will be able to bring the two sides together,” said Witkoff with a view to the talks in Saudi Arabia. In the long term, the United States also pursues the goal of improving relationships with Moscow – not least because of the growing concern about the close alliance between Russia and China.

What do the conversations for Ukraine mean?

For Ukraine, the conversations are about their own survival. Militarily, it is under heavy pressure. If the country loses the backing of the West and thus the military aids, it cannot resist the Russian rush. So Kiev has to present the White House at least his good will, even if the concessions acted in advance for peace – foregoing NATO accession, but also in large areas in favor of the attacker Russia – put pressure on the leadership. According to surveys, half of the population is still strictly against the task of their own areas.

It is important for Ukraine that in return for her own concessions, she receives security guarantees. Trust in the opponent of Russia is low. Therefore, Kyiv relies on international peace troops.

How does Russia behave?

In view of its successes on the front, Russia plays for temporary areas and wants to increase the pressure on Ukraine in order to force ever greater concessions. In Russian comments, there is talk of Kremlin chief Putin a political fresh start in the country with a Russian -friendly leadership.

Moscow is ready for negotiations on a peaceful solution in the conversations with the Americans. At the same time, the Kremlin has an increasing militarization in Europe in view and primarily accuses the EU of being interested in continuing war with its arms deliveries and the “financing of the Kiev regime”.

Putin repeatedly made it clear that there could be no end to the fight without an end to western arms deliveries to Ukraine and without stopping the mobilization in the neighboring country. It also insists that Ukraine does not have NATO accession and at least foregoing its areas controlled by Russia, which is about a fifth of the country.

What prospects for success are there?

A quick solution is not in sight in this complex conflict. In the election campaign, US President Trump promised to end the conflict quickly and is therefore under pressure to succeed. However, he mainly comes across a hard negotiation position on the Russian side. So far, Russia does not want to get involved in the ceasefire proposed by the United States and supported by Ukraine for 30 days in order not to get Kiev in the war.

Kremlin chief Putin, who is considered a clever negotiator after more than 25 years, should continue to keep Trump happy with small concessions. Above all, as he says, he is concerned with a resumption of relationships with the United States and an end to the sanctions so that the trade between the two countries blooms again and the economy wins.

However, a full -fledged ceasefire is extremely unlikely as long as Europe continues its military support from Ukraine, says Russian political scientist Tatjana Stanowaya. Moscow would be satisfied, as she believes that Trump would bring the next Europe to hire the help for Ukraine. Putin is not about a complete conquest of Ukraine, which he also has no reserves for. “His strategy is to have a surrender of Ukraine about your self -awareness that the resistance has no perspective,” says Stanowaya. So far, however, this has also been unlikely.