The United States is meeting separately with Russian and Ukrainian leaders for talks this week in Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration has departed from traditional US foreign policy as it seeks *** deal ending Russia's war, while Trump's approach has. Concerns for some European allies. His special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, described recent talks this way. The president had two very productive calls this week, or last week, I should say, one with President Zelensky, one with President Putin. I was in, I sat and listened to both of them. In both conversations it was all about *** lasting peace. Lots of progress got made last week. According to the Kremlin, at the top of the agenda Monday was the issue of the Black Sea initiative and all aspects related to its renewal, including navigation safety. Earlier in the war, the so-called Black Sea grain Initiative enabled the safe export of Ukrainian grain through Black Sea waters. Russia withdrew. From that agreement, which was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in 2023, complaining that Russia faced obstacles exporting its own food, Washington is eyeing *** potential maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and hoping that initial positivity in peace talks could lead to *** broader 30 day ceasefire and longer term negotiations at the White House. I'm Julia Benbrook.