- Ukraine and U.S. officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss proposals to protect critical infrastructure and energy facilities as part of efforts to end the ongoing war.
- U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism for a ceasefire and potential peace progress, while Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy called for an end to Russian strikes.
Ukraine and U.S. delegations held talks on Sunday, March 23, in Saudi Arabia. They discussed protecting critical infrastructure and energy facilities.
The meeting is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. The U.S. hopes to broker a ceasefire and move toward a peaceful resolution.
The talks came ahead of scheduled discussions between U.S. and Russian delegations on Monday, March 24. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about the peace process. He believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking peace.
Witkoff stated, “I feel that (Putin) wants peace,” and added that progress would be made on a ceasefire in the Black Sea region. He hopes this could lead to a broader halt in fighting between the two countries.
President Zelenskiy, however, made it clear that while Ukraine is working in a “completely constructive manner,” the country needs more than just discussions. He stressed that Putin must order an end to the attacks on Ukraine. Zelenskiy said, “We need to get Putin to give a real order to stop the strikes.”
Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, led the Ukrainian delegation. He described the talks as technical but vital in the search for a “just peace” and enhanced security. Despite efforts for peace, a ceasefire agreed last week between Russia and Ukraine has faced challenges.
The ceasefire, which aimed to stop attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days, has already been threatened by continued strikes from both sides.
The talks came after a major Russian drone attack on Kyiv overnight. The attack killed at least three people, including a five-year-old child. It caused fires in high-rise apartment buildings and damaged parts of the capital.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported shooting down 59 Ukrainian drones targeting southwestern regions. The drone strikes resulted in one death in Rostov.
President Trump said the situation is “somewhat under control” and hopes for a ceasefire within weeks. He is aiming for a broad ceasefire by April 20. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz explained that the U.S. is working on various confidence-building measures.
These measures include discussions about the future of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. They are also planning talks on the front lines and verification mechanisms. European leaders remain wary of the U.S. negotiating a peace deal with Russia. They fear it could weaken the European response.
Witkoff, however, reassured them, saying that Putin does not want to invade all of Europe and that the current situation is different from World War Two.