Setbacks and Conditions: Latest Developments in Ukraine Ceasefire Talks

Russia tempered expectations for quick progress on a Ukraine truce after talks with a U.S. delegation in Saudi Arabia. The discussions, which followed a meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine in Riyadh, lasted all day. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin both spoke with U.S. President Trump recently, “agreeing” on a cease-fire for energy facilities, although Putin outlined additional conditions for a full truce and kept targeting both — civilians and energy facilities throughout Ukraine.

Talks in Riyadh focused on the technical details of a potential partial truce, with a U.S. State Department spokesperson confirming a proposal for a cease-fire in the Black Sea. Kyiv provided Washington with a list of sites to be protected in a limited cease-fire. The Kremlin discussed the possibility of returning to a 2022 deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea, which Russia exited in 2023.

A Kremlin spokesperson stated that many aspects of a cease-fire still need to be worked through, while Trump mentioned discussions on territory, lines of demarcation, and power plant ownership.

Ukraine's foreign minister responded, urging Russia to stop making empty peace statements and to end its bombing of cities and war on civilians.