RIYADH: The latest round of talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Riyadh on de-escalating the war with Russia was “productive and focused,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Sunday.
“We have concluded our meeting with the American team. The discussion was productive and focused. We addressed key points, including energy,” Umerov wrote on social media, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to achieving a “just and lasting peace.”
Sunday’s talks primarily centered on safeguarding energy infrastructure and critical facilities, a key element in the diplomatic push led by US President Donald Trump to end the three-year war.
The discussions took place ahead of Monday’s meeting between US and Russian delegations. Meanwhile, US special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about progress toward resolving Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
“I think you’re going to see some real progress in Saudi Arabia on Monday, particularly regarding a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. From that, we may naturally move toward a full ceasefire,” he added.
Separately, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz stated that the US was exploring various confidence-building measures, including addressing the future of Ukrainian children taken into Russia.
Monday’s discussions between the US and Russia were expected to focus on potential steps toward de-escalation. Russian state media reported that Moscow’s delegation had arrived in Riyadh on Sunday.
However, the Kremlin tempered expectations, warning of “difficult negotiations” and a long path to peace.
“We are only at the beginning of this process,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state TV. He noted that significant questions remain about how a ceasefire could be implemented.
Despite ongoing proposals for temporary ceasefires, hostilities have persisted. On Sunday, a Russian strike on Kyiv killed three civilians, while Ukrainian drone attacks claimed two lives in Russia.
Originally planned as simultaneous talks with US officials shuttling between delegations, negotiations on a partial truce are now occurring sequentially.
Putin has rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a full and immediate 30-day ceasefire, instead suggesting a halt in attacks solely on energy facilities.
“There are difficult negotiations ahead,” Peskov reiterated in an interview posted on social media.
One of Moscow’s main discussion points with the US is the potential revival of the 2022 Black Sea grain deal, which ensured safe passage for Ukrainian agricultural exports.
“On Monday, we mainly intend to discuss President Putin’s willingness to resume the so-called Black Sea initiative, and our negotiators will be ready to discuss the details,” Peskov said.
Russia withdrew from the deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in 2023, citing the West’s failure to ease sanctions on Russian agricultural exports.
Peskov also underscored the broader potential for cooperation between Russia and the US.
“The potential for mutually beneficial collaboration in various fields cannot be overstated,” he said. “We may have disagreements, but that does not mean we should deprive ourselves of mutual benefits.”
Ahead of the negotiations, both sides launched fresh drone attacks.
Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian drone strike on Kyiv killed three civilians, including a five-year-old girl and her father. Large-scale attacks on the capital remain rarer than in other parts of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched 147 drones in the latest wave of assaults, while Russia claimed to have repelled nearly 60 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Russian officials reported two civilian deaths: a man in the Rostov region, whose car was set ablaze by drone debris, and a woman in the Belgorod border region.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military announced the capture of a small village in the eastern Luhansk region, marking a rare battlefield success for Kyiv’s embattled forces.
In an evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for prolonging the war.
“Russia is the only one dragging this war out,” Zelensky stated.
“No matter what we discuss with our partners, we must pressure Putin to give a real order to stop the strikes. The one who started this war must end it.”
Zelensky also called on Ukraine’s allies to intensify pressure on Moscow.
“New decisions and stronger measures against Moscow are needed to stop these attacks and bring an end to this war,” he posted on social media.
