Negotiators from the U.S. and Russia convened on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss a potential partial ceasefire in Ukraine. This meeting took place just hours after separate negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations, as reported by Russian news agencies such as Tass and RIA-Novosti. The discussions are intended to focus on a pause in long-range attacks from both countries, particularly aimed at protecting energy facilities, civilian infrastructure, and ensuring safe commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
Despite agreeing in principle to a limited ceasefire following a conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and leaders from both Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday, there remain significant differences in interpretation regarding the ceasefire's terms. While the White House indicated that the ceasefire should cover "energy and infrastructure," the Kremlin emphasized that it pertains specifically to "energy infrastructure." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that railways and ports should also be included in the agreement.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that the accord reached between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin strictly applied to energy facilities and stated that the Russian military is adhering to a directive from Putin to halt attacks on these facilities for the next 30 days. However, Peskov also accused Ukraine of derailing ceasefire efforts, citing an attack on a gas metering station in Russia's Kursk region. Ukraine's military officials denied these claims and attributed the attack to Russian shelling, which Peskov dismissed as "absurd."
As negotiations unfolded, Russia escalated its military actions, launching a series of drone attacks across Ukraine that resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals, including a father and his 5-year-old daughter in Kyiv. In a statement, President Zelenskyy expressed that since March 11, Ukraine had proposed an unconditional ceasefire, arguing that Russia's ongoing attacks could have ceased if they were genuinely committed to peace.
President Zelenskyy called for greater international pressure on Russia to halt what he described as acts of terror, emphasizing that the resolution of this conflict hinges on support from global partners, including the U.S. and European nations. While Ukraine remains open to a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire as proposed by Trump, Russia's conditions include a cessation of arms supplies to Ukraine and the suspension of the country's military mobilization—demands that Ukraine and its Western allies have outright rejected.
Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, spoke on "Fox News Sunday," expressing optimism about the ongoing talks in Saudi Arabia, particularly concerning a ceasefire for Black Sea shipping. He indicated a belief that progress could lead toward a broader ceasefire in military operations. In comments regarding the latest discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. representatives, President Zelenskyy characterized the technical negotiations as productive, involving various sectors including military, energy, and diplomatic officials. Despite this, he stressed that genuine progress is contingent upon Putin issuing a directive to halt military strikes for peace to be achieved.
In a separate development, the Ukrainian state railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, reported a "massive targeted cyber attack" on its online services, although train operations were not disrupted. The online purchasing of tickets was affected, but the company reassured that its services remained functional despite ongoing threats. Meanwhile, as part of the recent drone assaults, the Ukrainian air force reported that 99 drones had been launched into Ukraine overnight, with 57 being shot down.
In terms of casualties, a man was wounded in Kyiv due to a drone strike on a residential area, while two individuals were hospitalized in the Kharkiv region after a drone hit their residential building. Additional damage was reported in Zaporizhzhia, where Russian bombings injured an elderly woman and damaged local properties. The toll from these drone attacks highlights the ongoing volatility and humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict.
