White House praises Saudi Crown Prince for mediating Russia-Ukraine Black Sea talks
The White House has expressed its gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his role in facilitating discussions between Russia and Ukraine on ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea.
A statement from Washington read: “The United States expresses gratitude to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his leadership and hospitality in once again facilitating these important discussions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
The talks, held in Riyadh, led to separate agreements between the US, Russia, and Ukraine aimed at securing the strategic waterway, a crucial route for agricultural exports. Officials from Saudi Arabia, the US, Russia, and Ukraine explored initial steps toward resolving key issues, with the ultimate hope of achieving a broader resolution to the ongoing war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the discussions, describing them as early steps toward a peaceful settlement.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized the need for “clear guarantees”, stating: “Given the sad experience of agreements with just Kyiv, the guarantees can only be the result of an order from Washington to Zelensky and his team to do one thing and not the other.”
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began with Russia’s 2022 invasion and annexation of Ukrainian territory, remains a major geopolitical crisis. The Saudi-brokered talks mark another attempt at diplomacy amid ongoing hostilities.
