Russia has announced technical talks with the United States in Riyadh on 24 March. Moscow will be represented by Senator Grigory Karasin and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB).

Source: Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, as reported by European Pravda, citing Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax

Details: According to Ushakov, the Russia-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday will be held at the level of "experts appointed by the presidents".

"On the Russian side, they will be attended by Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the International Relations Council Committee of the Federation Council [the upper chamber of the Russian parliament], and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of the FSB," he added.

Notably, Beseda formerly headed the FSB's 5th Service, which oversees the collection of intelligence on Ukraine. The data it gathered was key to Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine in 2022.

Commenting on the selection of representatives from the Russian side, Ushakov described them as "really experienced negotiators who are well-versed in international issues".

Putin's aide added that the American team has also been formed, but in his view, it would be logical for the Americans to announce the names of its members themselves.

Background: 

• Earlier, the White House announced that a new round of talks on a peaceful settlement in Ukraine will take place in Saudi Arabia on 23 March.
• A meeting between Kyiv and Washington was also announced to discuss technical issues of the partial truce.

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