US-Russia talks on Ukraine to start in Saudi Arabia
US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks regarding a partial ceasefire in the Ukraine war, following discussions a day earlier between delegates from Washington and Kyiv.
US President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes talks in Riyadh could pave the way for a breakthrough, News.Az reports citing foreign media.
Both sides have proposed different plans for temporary ceasefires, but cross-border attacks have meanwhile continued unabated.
Originally planned to take place simultaneously to enable shuttle diplomacy -- with the United States going back and forth between the delegations -- the talks are now taking place one after the other.
The meeting between the Ukrainian team, led by defence minister Rustem Umerov, and the Americans finished up late Sunday night.
"The discussion was productive and focused -- we addressed key points including energy," Umerov said on social media, adding Ukraine was working to make its goal of a "just and lasting peace" a reality.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff voiced optimism that any agreement struck would pave the way for a "full-on" ceasefire.
"I think you're going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday 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," he told Fox News.
But the Kremlin on Sunday downplayed expectations of a rapid resolution.
"We are only at the beginning of this path," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state TV.
He said there were many outstanding questions over how a potential ceasefire might be implemented.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a joint US-Ukrainian call for a full and immediate 30-day pause, proposing instead a halt in attacks only on energy facilities.
"There are difficult negotiations ahead," Peskov said in the interview, published on social media.
Peskov said the "main" focus in its talks with the United States would be a possible resumption of a 2022 Black Sea grain deal that ensured safe navigation for Ukrainian farm exports via the Black Sea.
"On Monday, we mainly intend to discuss President Putin's agreement to resume the so-called Black Sea initiative, and our negotiators will be ready to discuss the nuances around this problem," Peskov said.
Moscow pulled out of the deal -- brokered by Turkey and the United Nations -- in 2023, accusing the West of failing to uphold its commitments to ease sanctions on Russia's own exports of farm produce and fertilisers.
A senior Ukrainian official previously told AFP that Kyiv would propose a broader ceasefire, covering attacks on energy facilities, infrastructure and naval strikes.
Both sides launched fresh drone attacks on the eve of the negotiations.
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