Ukraine, Russia to hold talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia next week

Ukrainian and Russian officials have confirmed that discussions regarding a proposed partial ceasefire between the United States and Ukraine will resume on Monday in Saudi Arabia.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, stated at a press conference in Oslo on Thursday that the meetings’ schedule would involve two-day meetings between US and Ukrainian officials followed by separate discussions with Russian representatives.

After speaking with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, he said, “There will be a meeting of Ukraine and America and then some shuttle diplomacy, as our American colleagues have suggested.”

President Vladimir Putin’s top aide to foreign policy, Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that talks between Russian and US officials would be held in Riyadh on Monday, adding that the issue would be the safety of shipping in the Black Sea.

Sergei Beseda, an advisor to the Federal Security Service (FSB), and Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat who currently chairs the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, will represent Russia.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, claimed the “Black Sea Initiative” had been discussed when Putin and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday.

Following the call, the leaders agreed to technical negotiations to end a maritime ceasefire, a full ceasefire, and permanent peace, according to a statement from the White House.

limited ceasefire

The leaders of Ukraine and Russia both agreed in principle to halt energy infrastructure attacks after two phone calls with US President Donald Trump this week.

Zelenskyy stated on Thursday that he was working with the US to stop weapons being produced at civilian sites and power plants despite his initial efforts to reach a wider ceasefire.

He had earlier indicated that he intended to list facilities he would like to see included in the partial ceasefire along with energy targets as well as rail and port infrastructure.

After US officials said Washington might take control of Ukraine’s Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, he announced on Thursday that he would not talk with Trump about potential US ownership of the country’s.

The significant asset that produced nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity in the year before the war has been at risk since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Zelenskyy responded to questions about reports that Trump might be considering recognizing Crimea as a part of Russia. Zelenskyy claimed the US president had not contacted him about the matter during their call.

Crimea, which is home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, is formally a part of Russia, according to the Kremlin on numerous occasions. Most nations recognize the Black Sea peninsula as Ukrainian territory.

Peacekeeping discussions

As details of a partial ceasefire are settled, Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Western military officials in London on Thursday to discuss plans for an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine.

Following any full ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, Russia has vehemently rejected the statement that Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are co-leaders of efforts to form the so-called “coalition of the willing.”

Macron has also indicated that he will discuss extending France’s nuclear umbrella to the entire European Union.

Sergei Shoigu, the Security Council’s secretary, stated on Thursday that these statements “reflect the anti-Russian sentiment that pervades today in Europe.”

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, claimed that Europe is “turning into a war party.”

He claimed that “the majority of the signals coming from Brussels and the capitals of Europe concern plans to militarize Europe.”

After Friedrich Merz, the current chancellor-in-waiting, suggested a sizable defense spending boost, Moscow also attacked Berlin, declaring that it was engaged in a “war of aggression against Europe.”

According to Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the German political elites, the comments reflect “German political elites’ desire for historical revenge.”

summit of the EU

The Ukrainian leader made a statement supporting Ukraine at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels while the leader was in Oslo.

Zelenskyy referred to Victor Orban’s repeated opposition to EU support for Ukraine and the Hungarian Prime Minister as “simply anti-European when one person blocks decisions that are important for the entire continent,” according to Zelenskyy in a videolink interview.

Source: Aljazeera