KYIV/RIYADH (Reuters) – Officials from Ukraine and the United States are set to convene in Saudi Arabia on Sunday to explore the possibility of a limited ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia, as part of a heightened diplomatic effort led by U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to three years of conflict. This meeting will be followed by discussions between U.S. and Russian delegations scheduled for Monday.
These talks in Saudi Arabia build upon previous negotiations between the U.S. and Russia, and subsequently between the U.S. and Ukraine. During the latter, Kyiv accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal. The Ukrainian delegation at the upcoming meeting will be headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, a move President Volodymyr Zelenskiy believes will enable swift and substantive action from Kyiv.
While Ukrainian officials view the upcoming meeting in Riyadh as primarily technical, the aim is to clarify the specifics of potential ceasefire arrangements, including monitoring and control mechanisms.
Following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s acceptance of Trump’s proposal to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure for a month, efforts are now focused on achieving a broader ceasefire agreement. Trump expressed cautious optimism on progress in resolving the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with efforts towards a comprehensive ceasefire by April 20.
The discussions on Monday between Russian and U.S. experts will also address ensuring the safety of shipping in the Black Sea, as stated by the Kremlin. Despite these diplomatic efforts, reports of continued strikes from both sides persist, with Russian forces making gradual advances in eastern Ukraine.
A recent Russian drone attack on Kyiv resulted in casualties and infrastructure damage, while Russian air defenses claimed to have intercepted Ukrainian drones targeting their territory.
(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk in Kyiv and Pesha Magid in Riyadh; Editing by Gareth Jones)
