Witkoff said he expects real progress from the talks in Saudi Arabia.

The United States expects real progress from the talks in Saudi Arabia on the issues of a cease-fire on the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine. US President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said this on Fox News on March 23.

"I think you will see real progress in Saudi Arabia on Monday, especially with regard to the cease—fire on the Black Sea between the two countries, and a complete cease-fire naturally follows from this," the interview was broadcast on Fox News' YouYube channel.

Witkoff also called the rapprochement of the parties to the conflict by discussing specific issues the main goal of the upcoming negotiations.

"Our task is to focus on specific issues, bring the parties closer together and stop the loss of life. That's the plan of action. That's exactly what we intend to do. I think we're doing it pretty effectively. And I think you'll see that after Monday (March 24th. Much more progress will be announced," Trump's special envoy commented.

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Earlier in the day, Michael Waltz, Assistant to the President of the United States for National Security, said that Washington and Moscow would discuss territorial issues, as well as the cessation of hostilities in the Black Sea and the resumption of trade along it.

Negotiations between the delegations of Russia and the United States will take place in the capital of Saudi Arabia on March 24. They will discuss the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine and the implementation of the Black Sea initiative. The Russian delegation will be led by Chairman Karasin and Advisor to the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Sergey Beseda.