US ready to facilitate Moscow-Kyiv talks, UN Security Council told

WASHINGTON, United States — UNITED NATIONS — The United States is prepared to play a constructive role in facilitating negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, a senior US diplomat told an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Friday. Deputy Permanent Representative Dan Negrea said Washington is ready to take on any constructive role to help the two sides reach a desired outcome. Addressing the council, Negrea called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the negotiating table. He also stressed that both sides must stop attacks against or damaging civilian vessels in the Black Sea. The emergency meeting was convened at the request of five European council members — Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia and the United Kingdom — to discuss developments in the war between Russia and Ukraine and its broader consequences. The session focused on the escalation of mutual strikes in the Black Sea that threaten civilian maritime traffic and grain exports.