In Saudi Arabia on Sunday, U.S. and Ukrainian officials met to discuss the possibility of a partial ceasefire in the ongoing war with Russia. But hopes for a quick agreement were met with Moscow’s warnings about “difficult negotiations.” These discussions, organized by US President Donald Trump, seek to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The discussions, which were initially meant to happen at the same time to let US mediators move between both sides, are now taking place in a staggered format. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov met with U.S. delegates on Sunday evening to discuss how to protect energy infrastructure and go over some technical details. Meanwhile, US and Russian officials are scheduled to meet on Monday.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, sounded optimistic, suggesting that a ceasefire in the Black Sea could open the door to a larger truce. He told Fox News that there’s a chance for “real progress” from the talks happening in Saudi Arabia. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that the negotiations are “only at the beginning,” and there are still many unresolved issues to address.
Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has rejected a US proposal for a 30 day ceasefire, saying that this ceasefire does not do enough and instead only allowing Ukraine to regroup. He alternatively proposed a more limited pause aimed at energy facilities. Ukraine is standing its ground, insisting on a complete halt to fighting that is not just limited to energy facilities. Both sides seem to be stuck in their positions, with Peskov highlighting that there are “many nuances” to consider when it comes to any agreement.