U.S. negotiators began talks with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on Monday, aiming to establish a partial ceasefire in the ongoing conflict. The war, sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has led to three years of intense fighting, with both sides accusing each other of undermining ceasefire efforts.
The talks followed a proposal for a limited ceasefire, agreed upon by both countries last week after President Trump’s call with the leaders. However, differences remain over what would be off-limits during the ceasefire, with the U.S. and Ukraine suggesting broader protections for energy and infrastructure, while Russia insists on more narrow terms focused on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called for protections for railways and ports.
During the talks, Zelenskyy reiterated his concerns over Russia’s ongoing attacks, which have continued despite ceasefire discussions. On Sunday, he condemned a recent drone strike on Kyiv that killed three people, including a father and his young daughter, and an attack on Zaporizhzhia that claimed the lives of an entire family. Zelenskyy stressed the need for "more pressure" on Russia from the U.S. and European allies to halt the attacks.
In the meetings in Riyadh, the delegations discussed possible pauses in specific regions, such as the Black Sea, to ensure the safety of commercial shipping. While the U.S. and Russian teams met separately, both sides continued to trade accusations. Russia’s Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Ukraine had sabotaged the ceasefire by attacking a gas station in Sudzha, while Ukraine rejected this, blaming Russia for the attack.
Despite these tensions, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expressed hope for progress in the talks, particularly around a potential pause in hostilities in the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has shown openness to a full 30-day ceasefire, but Russia’s conditions, including halting arms supplies to Ukraine, have been firmly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies.
As the discussions continue, there have been rumors about potential Chinese involvement in peacekeeping, but China has firmly denied any such intentions.
Global
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