Riyadh, March 23 – U.S. and Ukrainian officials are set to meet late Sunday in Saudi Arabia to discuss a potential partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. The meeting is part of an intensifying diplomatic push by U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to three years of conflict. Talks between the U.S. and Russian delegations are scheduled to follow on Monday.
Sunday’s meeting comes after a series of discussions held in Saudi Arabia, where Kyiv had earlier accepted a 30-day truce proposal. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will lead Ukraine’s delegation, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of quick and substantive action during this process. Despite this, Ukrainian officials described the meeting as primarily technical, aimed at clarifying the scope, monitoring, and control mechanisms of potential ceasefire regimes.
Last Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to President Trump’s proposal to halt attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. However, this arrangement fell short of a broader ceasefire agreement that Washington had sought, with Kyiv’s backing.
President Trump expressed cautious optimism on Saturday, stating efforts to de-escalate the conflict were “somewhat under control.” According to reports, the U.S. aims to secure a comprehensive ceasefire within weeks, targeting an agreement by April 20.
Meanwhile, continued hostilities underscore the fragile nature of diplomacy. Overnight, a large-scale Russian drone attack on Kyiv claimed at least three lives, including that of a 5-year-old child, while causing significant damage across the city. In southwestern Russia, authorities reported intercepting 59 Ukrainian drones, with one person killed in Rostov during the strikes.
On Monday, U.S. and Russian experts will meet in Saudi Arabia to address Black Sea shipping safety, according to Kremlin sources. However, Russian forces have maintained their slow advance in eastern Ukraine, a region Moscow asserts it has annexed.
The evolving negotiations highlight the high stakes and challenges of forging peace in the region, even as both sides continue to report ongoing military actions.
