Russia says details of US talks on Ukraine won't be made public, hours after statement expected

Russia has confirmed that the details of the talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia will not be made public, despite expectations for a joint statement to be released today.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the state-owned Tass news agency that the talks focused on several issues, including the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. Lavrov also reiterated Russia’s support for resuming the Black Sea grain initiative, which would allow Ukraine to safely export grain—a deal that Russia pulled out of in 2023.

The talks, which took place on Monday, were aimed at exploring a potential partial ceasefire in the Black Sea. While no immediate agreements were announced, a source familiar with the negotiations indicated that both sides are still deliberating the contents of a possible joint statement, expected to be released on Tuesday.

In the meantime, Ukraine and Russia continue to engage in hostilities on the ground. Ukraine reported a significant missile strike by Russia that injured 88 people, while Russia accused Ukraine of targeting two journalists and their driver. Despite ongoing military activity, both Moscow and Washington have indicated a willingness to continue diplomatic efforts to bring about peace.

In parallel, U.S. and Ukrainian officials are holding separate talks in Saudi Arabia, following the Russia-U.S. discussions. Ukrainian officials have confirmed that all details of these talks will be revealed later.

While the Russian delegation has suggested that no immediate breakthroughs were achieved, they described the talks as "useful" and expressed cautious optimism about the dialogue. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that no formal agreements would be signed and that the discussions remain technical in nature, without any immediate plans for further public statements.

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