U.S. negotiators met with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia’s capital on Monday to hammer out details of a potential partial ceasefire in Ukraine’s three-year war, following separate discussions with Ukrainian representatives the day prior.
The talks, held at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, aimed to bridge gaps in a tentative 30-day truce agreed in principle last week—a deal strained by ongoing drone and missile strikes from both sides.
The negotiations focused on defining off-limits targets and securing a Black Sea shipping pause to protect commercial routes. Russian state media reported the U.S.-Russia session concluded late Monday, with Grigory Karasin, a senior Russian delegate, calling the talks “creative” and suggesting mutual understanding.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s team lingered in Riyadh, anticipating further U.S. meetings, though no date was set.
President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, hinted at broader issues under discussion, including territorial lines and U.S. control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, seized by Russia in 2022. “We have the expertise to run it,” Trump said, noting its dire state despite remaining tied to Ukraine’s grid.
The Kremlin insists the ceasefire covers only “energy infrastructure,” while Kyiv’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushes for railways and ports to be included.
Violence persisted as talks unfolded. Russia claimed it downed a Ukrainian drone near an oil station in Novorossiisk, while accusing Kyiv of hitting a gas facility in Kursk—charges Ukraine’s military dismissed as “absurd,” blaming Russian shelling instead.
A Russian missile struck Sumy, injuring 65, including 14 children, and Ukraine reported downing 57 of 99 Russian drones overnight.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff predicted “real progress,” suggesting a Black Sea truce could spark a wider ceasefire. Yet, Putin’s demands—halting Ukraine’s arms supply and mobilization—remain non-starters for Kyiv and its allies.
As diplomacy teeters, both sides show no pause in hostilities, testing the U.S.-led effort’s fragile momentum.