Russia, Ukraine to Resume US-Brokered Ceasefire Talks in Saudi Arabia

Negotiations regarding a potential partial ceasefire in Ukraine are scheduled to resume on Monday in Saudi Arabia, officials from both Ukraine and Russia have confirmed, as per Al Jazeera.

The talks, brokered by the United States, aim to de-escalate tensions and address key areas of concern.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at a press conference in Oslo on Thursday, outlined the planned structure of the meetings. He stated that US officials would first engage with Ukrainian experts before holding separate discussions with Russian representatives.

Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed the bilateral talks between Russian and US officials, stating that they would focus on ensuring the safety of shipping in the Black Sea. Russia’s delegation will include Grigory Karasin, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB).

According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the “Black Sea Initiative” was a topic of discussion between Presidents Putin and Trump during a phone call earlier this week. Following the call, the White House released a statement indicating that the leaders had agreed to technical negotiations aimed at implementing a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, with the long-term goal of achieving a complete ceasefire and lasting peace.

Both Putin and Zelensky agreed, in principle, to a pause in attacks targeting energy infrastructure during separate phone conversations with President Trump. While Zelensky had initially sought a broader ceasefire agreement, he affirmed his commitment to collaborating with the US to prevent attacks on power production and civilian facilities. He also expressed his intention to include rail and port infrastructure in the proposed partial ceasefire.

Zelensky clarified that he would not be discussing potential US ownership of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with President Trump, despite previous reports suggesting that Washington might be interested in taking over the plant.

Responding to reports that President Trump might consider recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, Zelensky stated that the issue was not raised during their phone conversation. The Kremlin has consistently maintained that Crimea, where Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based, is officially part of Russia.

In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting of Western military officials on Thursday to discuss plans for an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine, contingent on progress towards a partial ceasefire. Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, leading the “coalition of the willing,” have indicated their readiness to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine following a full ceasefire agreement, a proposal that Russia has vehemently rejected.

Macron has also floated the idea of extending France’s nuclear umbrella to encompass the entire European Union. Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu dismissed these statements as reflecting “anti-Russian sentiment” prevalent in Europe today.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov further accused Europe of transforming into a “war party,” citing concerns about increasing militarization efforts across the continent. Moscow also criticized Berlin after chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz proposed a substantial increase in defense spending, accusing Moscow of waging a “war of aggression against Europe.”