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Top US and Ukrainian officials have met ahead of a key round of negotiations in Saudi Arabia aimed at brokering a partial ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Some shit you should know before you read: There are a lot of moving parts to the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks. Currently, negotiations are centered around an initial US-backed proposal calling for a 30-day ceasefire, covering not just frontline combat but also strikes on critical infrastructure, naval operations, and aerial bombardments. Ukraine accepted the proposal, but Russia rejected its full scope and countered with a more limited offer: halting strikes solely on energy infrastructure. For a broader ceasefire, Russia introduced tougher conditions that Ukraine considers unacceptable, including a freeze on troop mobilization and a suspension of Western military aid and training. Ukrainian officials have alluded that Russia wants these terms because it would likely break the ceasefire and overwhelm Ukrainian forces.
What’s going on now: Ahead of major talks with Russia, a US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff met with top Ukrainian officials in Riyadh to coordinate strategy and solidify terms for a potential ceasefire framework. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov led Kyiv’s delegation and described the meeting as “productive and focused,” saying discussions centered on protecting energy infrastructure and civilian sites. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the talks constructive in a televised statement.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said both sides discussed “modalities, nuances, and control systems” for any potential ceasefire arrangement. The US expressed optimism that a broader truce could still be reached within weeks, despite growing challenges.
This all comes amid a surge in Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine. In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said more than 1,500 aerial bombs and over 1,000 drones had struck Ukraine in just the past week.
