Washington is striving to secure a Black Sea ceasefire agreement before finalizing a broader peace deal. These negotiations take place against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s intensified efforts to end the three-year-long war. Last week, he held discussions with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, leading to an agreement on a 30-day pause in attacks on energy infrastructure.
According to a Reuters report citing sources, the U.S. delegation is being led by Andrew Peek, senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official. The goal of implementing a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea is to ensure the free flow of shipping in the region.
Representing Russia in the talks are Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat who now chairs the Federation Council’s foreign affairs committee, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the director of the Federal Security Service.
Earlier discussions between U.S. officials and the Ukrainian side were led by Kyiv’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. He described the talks as “productive and focused,” emphasizing key topics such as energy and reiterating Ukraine’s commitment to achieving a “just and lasting peace.”
Meanwhile, in a Sunday evening address, Zelensky accused Russia of prolonging the war, stating, “No matter what we discuss with our partners, we must push Putin to issue a real order to stop the strikes. The one who started this war must end it.”
