U.S. and Russian officials are meeting in Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks on a partial ceasefire in Ukraine, a day after mediators from Washington and Kiev held talks.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed for a quick end to the three-year war and hopes the talks in Riyadh could pave the way for progress.
Both sides have proposed different plans for a temporary ceasefire, but cross-border attacks have continued unabated.
The talks were originally planned to take place simultaneously to allow for shuttle diplomacy, with U.S. mediators going back and forth between the delegations, but the talks are now taking place one after the other.
A meeting between the Ukrainian team led by Defense Minister Rustam Umerov and the Americans ended late Sunday night.
“The discussion was productive and focused, we addressed key points including energy,” Umerov said on social media, adding that Ukraine was working to make its goal of a “just and lasting peace” a reality.
Trump’s mediator Steve Witkoff expressed optimism that any agreement reached would pave the way for a “full” ceasefire.
“I think you’ll see real progress in Saudi Arabia on Monday, especially as it affects the ceasefire in the Black Sea. And from that, you’ll naturally strive for a full ceasefire,” he told Fox News, AFP reported.
