Partial Ukraine Ceasefire
American and Russian officials convened in Saudi Arabia on Monday to discuss a potential partial ceasefire in Ukraine, a day after US officials held separate talks with their Ukrainian counterparts in the same venue. The diplomatic efforts come as President Donald Trump pushes for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict, which has entered its third year.
The negotiations took place behind closed doors at a luxury hotel in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, with discussions reportedly including the possible revival of the 2022 Black Sea ceasefire agreement. This initiative had previously facilitated the export of millions of tonnes of Ukrainian grain and other essential commodities, but it was abandoned in 2023 due to disputes between Moscow and the West.
A Ukrainian official in Kyiv, speaking to AFP, confirmed that a second meeting between the US and Ukrainian delegations was expected on Monday, suggesting that progress may have been achieved in the initial round of discussions.
President Trump has been vocal about his desire to end the war quickly and views the latest diplomatic efforts in Riyadh as a potential breakthrough. Earlier this month, a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire was accepted by Ukraine but rejected by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials are now exploring alternative avenues for de-escalation, including measures focused on the Black Sea region.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that negotiations surrounding the Black Sea Initiative were high on the agenda, stating that President Trump proposed the talks and President Putin agreed, providing the Russian delegation with a mandate for discussions.
Leading the US team in Riyadh are Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and senior State Department official Michael Anton. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov described the first round of discussions as “productive and focused,” highlighting energy security as a key point of discussion.
Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism that any agreement reached in Saudi Arabia could serve as a stepping stone toward a comprehensive ceasefire. He suggested that a truce in the Black Sea could naturally progress into a broader cessation of hostilities.
However, Russian officials remain cautious about expectations for a rapid resolution. Peskov, speaking to Russian state media, warned that the negotiations were only in their initial phase and that significant challenges lay ahead. He reiterated that Moscow had dismissed the US-Ukraine proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, instead advocating for a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.
Russia had withdrawn from the Black Sea Initiative in 2023, citing the West’s failure to ease restrictions on its agricultural exports, including grain and fertilizers. Ukrainian officials have indicated that their delegation will propose a wider-ranging ceasefire, encompassing not only naval and energy-related targets but also infrastructure.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, hostilities have continued on the ground. Over the weekend, both Russia and Ukraine launched drone strikes against each other.
Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian drone attack on Kyiv killed three civilians, including a five-year-old girl and her father. AFP journalists in the Ukrainian capital documented the destruction, with emergency workers tending to the injured near damaged residential buildings.
Meanwhile, Moscow has entered the Saudi negotiations following a period of improved relations with Washington under Trump’s administration. Peskov remarked that the Kremlin sees great potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and the US, despite lingering political differences. He asserted that diplomatic engagement should not be hindered by disagreements, as both nations stand to gain from constructive dialogue.
With tensions still high and negotiations in their early stages, the world watches closely to see whether the diplomatic efforts in Riyadh will lead to meaningful steps toward peace in Ukraine.
