Compromise without coordination: why the negotiations between the US, Russia and Ukraine do not have a single voice
25 March 19:34
EXCLUSIVE
On Tuesday, March 25, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with journalists and spoke about the talks between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Saudi Arabia and the agreements that were reached.
According to the head of state, a 30-day truce in the Black Sea and in the energy sector will come into force today.
“We have handed over a list of all our facilities that, in our opinion, cannot be attacked,” Zelenskyy said.
At the same time, the Kremlin released its own statement on the talks with the United States. They say the truce began on March 18. It also says that the clauses on maritime security and the resumption of Russian exports will come into effect after sanctions against Russian producers and exporters are lifted.
On the dialog between the US and Russian expert groups, which revealed more disagreements than expected,
Technical round of talks between the US and Russia: why the delegations did not make a joint statement
Ruslan Bortnyk noted that it is difficult to assess only the context and format of the talks because the content remains unknown. In fact, these talks can be considered ongoing.
“It was a pendulum type of negotiation. I mean, the United States, you know, like a pendulum, they held the first round of negotiations with Ukraine, then they held the second round, which was a long negotiation with Russia, almost 12 hours. Then again, today they are negotiating with Ukraine,” Bortnik explained.
The expert emphasized that the main topic of the talks between the contact groups of Russia and the United States was the Black Sea.
“The main topic was the Black Sea. The Black Sea, security, security guarantees in the Black Sea, not only for Ukraine but also for Russia, for shipping, for trade through the Black Sea. The duration of the talks suggests that very narrow and really practical details were discussed, that the conversation was very detailed and very practical,” the expert said in an exclusive commentary to
.
Ruslan Bortnik, describing the talks between Russia and the United States that took place on March 24 in Saudi Arabia, noted that it was the first such practical, but at the same time technical round of negotiations.
“It is obvious that Russia is trying to put broader issues on the agenda, the issue of a future peace agreement. The US insists on a step-by-step truce. Ukraine is trying to maintain US support by agreeing to those options, those scenarios, those US guarantees that are provided to Ukraine during these negotiations,” the political analyst said.
The fact that after 12 hours of negotiations, there was no joint statement between Russia and the United States is logical for the expert, because it was necessary to coordinate not only the Russian-American position, but also the American-Ukrainian one. Without this coordination, the joint statement of the contact groups would have sounded like an ultimatum to Ukraine. And this would definitely not have helped the negotiation process.
Read also: Closed talks between Russia and the United States take place in Saudi Arabia: details of the meeting
The White House released a statement following the talks with Ukraine and Russia: what it says
As a result of these discussions:
The United States and Ukraine agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.
The United States and Ukraine agreed that the United States remains committed to achieving the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian hostages, and the return of forcibly removed Ukrainian children.
The United States and Ukraine agreed to develop measures to implement the agreement by Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy to prohibit strikes on energy infrastructure in Russia and Ukraine.
The United States and Ukraine welcome the willingness of third countries to facilitate the implementation of energy and maritime security agreements.
The United States and Ukraine will continue to work together to achieve a sustainable and lasting peace.
The United States reiterated to both sides President Donald J. Trump’s principled position that killing on both sides of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine must stop as a prerequisite for a sustainable peaceful resolution.
To this end, the United States will continue to facilitate negotiations between the parties to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with the agreements reached in Riyadh.
Read also: “Dialogue was not easy”: Russian officials talk about negotiations with the US
“Putin decided to squeeze the client”: how the Russian side behaved during and after the talks in Riyadh
Political analyst Vladimir Tsybulko, who spoke with
“Most likely, Putin set the task of expanding the bridgehead. When the American side began to show a tendency to compromise, Putin decided to “squeeze the client” while he was still warm,” Tsybulko said.
According to the expert, the fact that the US side announced a month before the talks that Ukraine would not join NATO was not even a bargaining position, not to mention a number of other concessions.
“It looks like Putin was actually dragged into these negotiations and feels like a director. Only here is the moment when he turns from a director to a psychiatric client. That is, most likely, the bet is actually on delaying the negotiations. And the Americans invented these negotiations as a way to “remove the diagnosis from the patient,” the political scientist summarized.
Behind-the-scenes dialog: The United States and Russia held talks in Saudi Arabia on March 24, 2025
on March 24, 2025 , closed-door talks were held in Riyadh between representatives of the United States and Russia. This was the first such high-level meeting in the last 12 months. The talks were held in the format of “backchannel diplomacy” – a non-public dialogue without press releases, protocol photos or a final communiqué. The purpose of the meeting was to reduce the risks of direct escalation between the nuclear powers and to preserve communication channels, especially amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Who participated and who mediated
The meeting was initiated by Saudi Arabia, which is increasingly positioning itself as a neutral negotiator in major international conflicts. Riyadh has already acted as a platform for consultations on Ukraine, as well as a mediator in energy issues between the West and the Middle East.
On the US side, the meeting was attended by representatives of the State Department and the National Security Council (NSC). The Russian delegation included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Security Council.
Key topics of the talks
1. Thewar in Ukraine. Potential frameworks for a temporary truce or localized ceasefire were discussed, especially near critical infrastructure and humanitarian routes. The issues of humanitarian coordination, exchanges and access to civilians were also raised.
The topic of whether partial concessions in the sanctions regime are possible in the future if certain conditions are met was also discussed.
2. Nuclear security. They discussed the situation at nuclear facilities located in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, where the risks of accidents or provocations are growing. Both sides expressed interest in restoring the inspection mechanisms previously provided for by the New START treaty, which has been frozen since 2023.
3. Military cooperation and incident prevention. Protocols to prevent military clashes, especially in the Black Sea and border regions, were discussed. They also discussed the possible resumption of hotlines between military headquarters for quick communication in case of emergencies.
Why it is important
This is the first serious contact between the two countries after a complete freeze in official dialogue in early 2024, when talks in Turkey broke down and escalation in Ukraine continued.
According to a White House source, the meeting was not aimed at “making peace.” The main goal was to avoid the worst-case scenarios, including a direct military clash between the US and Russia or a nuclear provocation.
The meeting is also perceived as an attempt to restore minimal channels of communication between Washington and Moscow, which have virtually disappeared since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Context: global diplomacy and risks
Against the backdrop of increasingly active discussions of a possible truce between Russia and Ukraine, this meeting fits into the general trend of cautious diplomatic probing. Even in the face of a complete loss of trust, both sides recognize that absolute isolation is too dangerous, especially when it comes to two nuclear powers.
In addition, Saudi Arabia’s role as a facilitator of the talks indicates a shift in diplomatic activity from traditional centers (Washington, Geneva, Brussels) to new players with flexible foreign policy and economic autonomy.
