Karasin, 75, is a career diplomat whose past roles include deputy foreign minister and ambassador to Britain. He is now a member of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, and chairs its international affairs committee. Both he and Beseda have been placed under Western sanctions.

Talks between the US and Russia about securing a peace deal in Ukraine began on Monday in Saudi Arabia. Delegates from both countries met in Riyadh in an attempt to work towards some kind of ceasefire three years after the Russian invasion.

We’re still far from the 30-day ceasefire the Americans had hoped for. Even Tuesday's announcement of a halt to hostilities in the Black Sea comes with Russian conditions. The negotiations are shaping up to be a long game — one that feels more like a high-stakes bluff than a real path to peace.