US and Russia Set to Announce Maritime Ceasefire After Talks

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. and Russian officials are slated to release a joint statement Tuesday morning concerning a proposed ceasefire in the Black Sea, sources familiar with the discussions told CBS News. The statement is expected at 4 a.m. EDT in Washington, D.C., and 11 a.m. in Moscow.

Details regarding the content of the statement remain unclear, though reports shared with the Trump administration from the U.S. technical team indicate optimism. Ukrainian officials have also been briefed on the developments, one source noted.

In a related report, the French news agency AFP indicated that Ukrainian and U.S. officials were engaged in additional talks in Riyadh Tuesday. A member of the Ukrainian delegation stated, “We are still working with the Americans,” while speaking to a small group of media outlets.

A Russian negotiator, Grigory Karasin, told the state TASS news agency that Moscow intends to continue “useful” conversations with the U.S. regarding the Ukraine conflict and will seek to involve the United Nations and other nations in the discussions. Karasin emphasized the intensity of the ongoing dialogue, noting that “lots of problems were discussed” during 12 hours of negotiations held at a luxury hotel.

Previous agreements brokered by the U.N. and Turkey allowed for maritime shipping in the Black Sea, facilitating exports of grain between the two nations. U.S. officials involved in the discussions include Michael Anton from the State Department and Andrew Peek from the White House National Security Council. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz highlighted on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that a ceasefire on aerial infrastructure took effect following a call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He added that the next priority is achieving a maritime ceasefire to enable the movement of grain, fuel, and other goods.

“We’ll talk about the line of control, the actual front lines, which involves verification mechanisms, peacekeeping, and freezing the lines where they are,” Waltz said. “Then, of course, we’ll address the broader and permanent peace.”

While separate talks have occurred between U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials, hostilities continue, with each side launching attacks against the other. The urgency for a maritime ceasefire is underscored by recent developments, including a Russian attack that damaged a school and hospital in Sumy, Ukraine, injuring at least 88 people.

Reporting also indicates that the U.S. and Russian officials concluded day-long talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday, focusing on a narrow proposal for a ceasefire at sea between Kyiv and Moscow. As discussions unfolded, Russian forces conducted strikes that damaged public structures in Ukraine, drawing condemnation from Ukrainian officials.

A Russian source revealed that the talks wrapped up after 12 hours of deliberation, during which the parties aimed to finalize a joint statement for release on Tuesday. A Kremlin spokesperson clarified that no documents would be signed.

U.S. President Trump, highlighting additional issues addressed during the discussions, stated, “We’re talking about territory, lines of demarcation, power plant ownership.” Although Russia rejected a previous proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire, it did agree to impose a moratorium on attacking energy infrastructure.

Concerns over maritime security remain high. Oleksiy Melnyk, co-director of the Foreign Relations and International Security Programs at Ukraine’s Razumkov Centre, expressed skepticism about the negotiations, emphasizing a significant lack of trust between the two sides. “If there are no prospects for engagement from the Russian side besides Ukraine’s capitulation, what is the reason for Ukraine to participate in these discussions?” he asked.

As U.S. officials meet with their Russian counterparts, they also engage with the Ukrainian delegation to explore agreements that protect maritime shipping and avoid civilian casualties. Progress on these fronts is deemed crucial for wider peace negotiations.