Russian senator Karasin, advisor to FSB director Beseda to lead Russian delegation at expert group talks with U.S. in Riyadh on March 24 - Kremlin aide Ushakov

MOSCOW. March 20 (Interfax) - Russian Federation Council member Grigory Karasin and advisor to the Federal Security Service (FSB) director Sergei Beseda will lead a Russian delegation at consultations of expert groups with the United States on the Black Sea initiative that will take place in Riyadh on March 24, Russian presidential aide for international affairs Yury Ushakov told journalists

"Mr. Waltz and I agreed that consultations on this account in a bilateral format will be held by experts appointed by the presidents. These consultations will take place in Riyadh on Monday, March 24. Head of the Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee Grigory Karasin and advisor to the Federal Security Service director Sergei Beseda will participate in them on the Russian side," Ushakov said following a phone call with U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

"These are genuinely experienced negotiators who know international problems well," he said.

Ushakov confirmed that he had a call with Waltz on Wednesday, March 19. "U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said yesterday that we had a phone call. I would like to confirm that such a conversation did take place," he said.

Ushakov said he has spoken to Waltz on the phone "regularly."

"I'd say this communication is very useful for both sides," he said.

"This time around, in line with the agreement reached between the Russian and U.S. presidents, we discussed the arrangement of a meeting between expert groups of the two countries to start primarily with exploring prospects for possibly implementing the well-known initiative concerning the safety of navigation in the Black Sea. By the way, I'd remind you that the corresponding package agreements had been concluded in July 2022 with support and participation of UN Secretary-General [Antonio] Guterres, but these agreements have never worked to the full extent," he said.

The U.S. has also put together its team for the talks in Riyadh on Monday, but it would be logical if the Americans themselves announce the names of its members, he said.

"We hope the consultations on Monday will be productive," Ushakov said.