Ukrainian delegation remains in Saudi Arabia for possible further consultations – Leshchenko

The Ukrainian delegation stays in Saudi Arabia to hold consultations following negotiations between the American and Russian delegations.

Serhii Leshchenko, an advisor to the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, said this on Ukrainian television, according to Ukrinform.

"Indeed, the Ukrainian delegation remains in Saudi Arabia and is not returning yet. This is to ensure that after the negotiations between the United States and the aggressor state, we also conduct our consultations. These talks will continue for some time, but they do not necessarily have to end with high-profile headlines. This is just another round, after which higher-level meetings on peace in Ukraine may take place," Leshchenko said.

He added that the negotiations in Riyadh are technical in nature and may continue for some time.

"There should not be much information [about the negotiations in Saudi Arabia] as they are technical discussions. Negotiations are usually not concluded in a single day; they sometimes take months, and some, like the Middle East peace process, have lasted for years. I do not suggest we compare ourselves to that, but it is important to understand that these meetings will be quite regular, and not all of them will end with public statements or joint press briefings," Leshchenko said.

He stressed that the main topics of discussion included infrastructure and maritime security.

"The discussion focused on mutual ceasefire agreements: we do not attack their targets, including river facilities, and they do not attack ours -- specifically, the ports of Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Greater Odesa," Leshchenko said.

He said that the negotiations also covered the exchange of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians held in the occupying state and its temporarily controlled Ukrainian territories, as well as the return of Ukrainian children.

Negotiations between the Ukrainian and American delegations concluded in Saudi Arabia on March 23.

Meanwhile, the Russian delegation arrived in Riyadh on Monday, March 24, for negotiations with the U.S. delegation.