US, Russian Negotiators Begin Ceasefire Talks in Saudi Arabia

US and Russian negotiators convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday to discuss a partial ceasefire in Ukraine, just hours after US and Ukrainian delegations held a separate round of negotiations, according to Russian news reports.

State-run agencies Tass and RIA-Novosti confirmed that discussions had begun in the Saudi capital, with additional meetings expected between US and Ukrainian teams. The negotiations aim to address halting long-range attacks by both Russia and Ukraine on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Another key agenda item is suspending hostilities in the Black Sea to ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping.

On Wednesday, Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire after US President Donald Trump spoke with both leaders. However, conflicting interpretations of the agreement have since emerged. While the White House stated that the ceasefire would cover “energy and infrastructure,” the Kremlin insisted it only applied to “energy infrastructure.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pushed for broader protections, including railways and ports.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed on Friday that the agreement reached between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin strictly pertains to energy facilities. He added that Russian forces are complying with Putin’s directive to halt such attacks for 30 days. However, Peskov accused Ukraine of violating the partial ceasefire by targeting a gas metering station in Sudzha, located in Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine’s military General Staff denied the accusation and instead blamed Russian forces for shelling the facility—a claim Peskov dismissed as “absurd.”

As ceasefire discussions continued, Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on Ukraine overnight on Saturday, resulting in at least seven casualties, including a father and his 5-year-old daughter in Kyiv. Addressing the nation on Sunday, Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, stating, “Since March 11, a proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table, and these attacks could have already stopped. But it is Russia that continues this violence.”

He further called for increased pressure on Moscow, urging the US, European nations, and other allies to step up their efforts to halt Russian aggression. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to accept the full 30-day ceasefire proposed by Trump, but Putin has made his commitment conditional upon a suspension of Western arms supplies to Ukraine and a halt to Ukraine’s military mobilization—demands that Kyiv and its allies reject.

Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about the negotiations in Riyadh. “We expect some real progress, particularly in securing a Black Sea ceasefire to protect commercial shipping. From there, the discussions may naturally extend to a broader ceasefire,” he said.

Regarding the US-Ukraine discussions in Riyadh, Zelenskyy described them as more “technical” in nature compared to previous meetings. This round included representatives from Ukraine’s military, energy ministry, and diplomatic corps.

“Our team is engaging constructively, and the talks have been productive. The delegations are continuing their work,” Zelenskyy stated. “However, regardless of these negotiations, Putin must issue a real order to stop the strikes. The one who started this war must be the one to end it.”