U.S.
and Russian authorities started talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday targeted at making progress towards a broad ceasefire in Ukraine with Washington eyeing a Black Sea ceasefire deal before protecting a broader agreement.The talks, which followed U.S.
talks with Ukraine on Sunday, come as U.S.
President Donald Trumpintensifies his drive to end the three-year-old dispute after he last week talked to both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.A source informed on the preparation for the talks said the U.S.
side was being led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official.The White House states the aim of the talks is to reach a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, allowing the complimentary flow of shipping.Russia will be represented by Grigory Karasin, a previous diplomat who is now chair of the Federation Councils Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, a consultant to the director of the Federal Security Service.Source: Reuters-- Agencies