A veteran of Russia's FSB security service and a former long-serving diplomat are representing Russia at the latest round of talks with the United States over Ukraine, taking place on Monday in Saudi Arabia.

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.

The United States has begun separate meetings with delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Saudi Arabia as the administration of President Donald Trump pushes to broker a peace agreement between the two countries.