Putin appoints Sergey Beseda for U.S. negotiations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Sergey Beseda to assist in negotiations with the United States. Beseda has had a troubled history with the Kremlin but is now seen as a key figure in upcoming talks. The talks are centered around the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. They are scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 24. The focus will be on ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea. Grigory Karasin will lead the Russian delegation, which includes Beseda and other experienced negotiators. Beseda, an intelligence officer, previously faced scrutiny for providing flawed intelligence prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Reports indicate that he was placed under house arrest for a period but has since returned to a position as an adviser to Alexander Bortnikov, the director of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). Experts suggest that Beseda's retirement from his previous role was more about reaching the mandatory age of retirement than a complete political fall from grace. He retains influence as an adviser, which indicates that the Kremlin still values his experience. Following a call between Yury Ushakov, a Russian presidential aide, and U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, it was confirmed that expert-level consultations would begin in Riyadh. The two sides hope for productive discussions, particularly regarding navigation safety in the Black Sea.