The Russian delegation led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived Monday night in Riyadh ahead of Tuesday’s talks on bilateral relations with the US, which are also expected to include a first exchange of views on a possible peacekeeping deal.

Moscow and Washington are expected to launch talks in the Saudi capital on Tuesday. The US delegation will be attended by Foreign Minister Marko Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Valts and US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkov, as confirmed earlier on Monday by the US Foreign Ministry.

“Very positive” that the US and Russia start conversations in Saudi Arabia

The Kremlin spokesman described the fact that US and Russian officials would have talks in Riyadh, on the one hand to improve relations between Moscow and Washington and on the other hand to end the war in Ukraine.

“It is good and very positive that we will meet to discuss. But it’s a little premature to make any prediction. Let’s wait until Tuesday, let’s see how the dialogue starts, “Dmitry Peskov said.

“We have not yet agreed on how to start the Riyadh negotiations”

For his part, Yuri Usakov (behind Lavrov in the photo), foreign policy adviser to the Russian president Vladimir Putin, He said on Monday that Moscow and Washington have not yet agreed on how to begin the peace talks about Ukraine, as the US has not yet set a head negotiator to talk to Russia.

In comments broadcast on Russian state television, Usakov said the Russian delegation was approaching discussions with a “business” attitude.

He said that Souril Dimitriev, head of the Russian State Investment Fund, may be involved in the delegation to discuss any financial issues that may arise.

Speaking at a press conference with his Serbian counterpart ahead of US-Russia talks, the Russian Foreign Minister questioned “Why should Europe be invited to participate in talks on a peaceful broadcast in Ukraine, since the politicians want war to continue?”