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The latest round of talks in Saudi Arabia build on efforts led by US President Donald Trump to secure a speedy end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, now grinding through its fourth year.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in a post on X said that the diplomatic talks commenced in Riyadh.(Photo: AFP)
Senior Ukrainian diplomats are meeting their American counterparts to discuss a possible partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, holding discussions on various topics like protecting energy facilities and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh on Sunday.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov in a post on X said that the diplomatic talks commenced in Riyadh. He said that Kyiv would implement President Zelenskyy’s directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security. As per the minister, the Ukrainian delegation includes energy experts as well as military representatives from the naval and air components.
“We’ve started the meeting with the American team in Riyadh. We are implementing the President of Ukraine’s directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security. The agenda includes proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure. Today, we’re working through a number of complex technical issues — our delegation includes energy experts as well as military representatives from the naval and air components,” he said on X.
We’ve started the meeting with the American team in Riyadh. We are implementing the President of Ukraine’s directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security. The agenda includes proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure. Today, we’re…— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) March 23, 2025
The latest round of talks in Saudi Arabia build on efforts led by US President Donald Trump to secure a speedy end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, now grinding through its fourth year.
In a telephonic conversation with Trump last week, Zelenskyy had said that he had accepted the unconditional ceasefire proposal as proposed by the US. The Ukrainian President further said that Kyiv is ready to pause strikes on Russian energy and civilian infrastructure.
Despite both sides proposing different plans for temporary ceasefires, attacks have continued unabated. A Russian strike on the Ukrainian capital killed three civilians overnight while Ukrainian drones killed two in Russia, officials said Sunday.
Originally scheduled to take place simultaneously to enable shuttle diplomacy with the US going back and forth between the delegations the talks on a partial truce are now taking place one after the other.
Ahead of the meeting, Donald Trump’s envoy said that he expects progress in Ukraine-Russia talks and that he trusts Russian leader Vladimir Putin does not want to expand his invasion of the pro-Western country.
“I think you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that, you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire,” Steve Witkoff told Fox News.
Subsequently, Russian officials would also hold talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia on Monday. Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier that Moscow would be represented by Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Senate’s committee on international affairs, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the head of the FSB security service. Ushakov said he had confirmed this after talks with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Both agreed to send “expert groups” for the talks, he added.
Earlier on March 11, US and Ukraine diplomats met in Saudi Arabia and held discussions on various topics like mineral deal and resumption of US military aid to Ukraine. The US resumed the aid following the talks in Riyadh.
Following the argument between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart in the White House earlier this month, Washington had suspended military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the negotiating table.
(With inputs from agencies)
- Location :
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia