MOSCOW, March 25 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble weakened

against the dollar on Tuesday as the market awaited an official

announcement on the outcome of U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi

Arabia.

By 0930 GMT, the rouble was down 1% at 84.75 against the

dollar in the over-the-counter market. The Russian currency is

up more than 25% this year.

The two countries have said the talks in Riyadh were focused

on a proposal for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the

Black Sea.

The rouble's rally since the start of the year has been

fuelled by expectations of a peace settlement in Ukraine and

easing of tensions between Russia and the United States.

Against the Chinese yuan, the most traded foreign currency

in Russia, the rouble was up 0.3% at 11.57 on the Moscow Stock

Exchange.