The US push for a Black Sea ceasefire, that’s led to the Kremlin seeking some sanctions relief in return, comes at a time when crop exports from Russia are riding high and Ukraine is back to almost pre-war levels.

The closed-door talks at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh follow U.S. consultations with a Ukrainian delegation on stabilizing the front lines and implementing a proposed 30-day armistice.

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that Ukraine had launched three attacks on Russian civilian energy infrastructure on Monday as Russian and U.S. officials held talks in Saudi Arabia about a possible ceasefire agreement.