Ukraine War: Kyiv-Washington Talks Begin in Riyadh Amid Hopes for Partial Truce with Russia

Riyadh, March 23, 2025, 12:00 PM PDT – Negotiations between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations kicked off in Riyadh on Sunday, focusing on a potential partial truce in the ongoing war with Russia, just a day before anticipated “difficult” talks between Russian and American representatives in Saudi Arabia. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism, expecting “real progress,” while Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the start of discussions on protecting energy infrastructure, as shared on Facebook and reported by The Guardian (web ID: 0).

Details of the Riyadh Talks

Umerov, leading the Ukrainian delegation, stated on Facebook, “We have started the meeting with the American team in Riyadh,” with the agenda including “proposals to protect energy and critical infrastructure,” per The Guardian. Kyiv and Washington are pushing for at least a temporary halt to strikes on energy sites, heavily damaged in Ukraine after over three years of Russian invasion, as noted in The Moscow Times (web ID: 2). Ukraine previously signaled readiness for a “general, unconditional ceasefire,” per The Guardian (web ID: 3).

However, Russia, whose forces continue to advance despite heavy losses, appears to be stalling, particularly until Ukrainian troops are expelled from the Kursk border region, per The Guardian (web ID: 3). Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov tempered expectations, telling Russian TV, “This is a very complex issue, and there’s a lot of work to do,” describing Monday’s talks as “difficult,” per The Guardian (web ID: 0). He emphasized that Russia only agreed to a moratorium on energy infrastructure attacks, highlighting a gap in priorities.

Black Sea Grain Deal Revival

A key divergence emerged as Peskov stressed that the “main” focus of Russia-U.S. talks would be reviving the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which facilitated Ukrainian grain exports from 2022 to 2023, per Wikipedia (web ID: 1). Russia withdrew in July 2023, citing Western failure to ease sanctions on its agricultural exports, as noted in the same source. Peskov added, “Our negotiators will be ready to discuss the nuances around this issue.” Meanwhile, Witkoff, on Fox News, predicted “real progress” on Black Sea issues, suggesting a “ceasefire on ships between the two countries, naturally leading to a full ceasefire.”

Ongoing Conflict and Battlefield Updates

Amid diplomacy, fighting persists. Ukraine’s military reclaimed the village of Nadia in Luhansk on Sunday, a rare success in a region largely controlled by Russia, per The Moscow Times (web ID: 2). Conversely, Russian forces captured Sribne in eastern Ukraine, per the same source. Overnight, Russia launched a “massive” drone attack on Kyiv, killing three and injuring ten, per local authorities cited by The Guardian (web ID: 3). Ukraine retaliated with strikes on Russian targets, including a drone attack in Rostov that killed one, per regional governor Yuri Slyusar on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to pressure Moscow to end the conflict, while Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha denounced Russia’s “systematic terror” as undermining peace efforts, per The Guardian (web ID: 3). The war, sparked by Russia’s February 2022 invasion, continues to devastate Ukraine, with energy infrastructure a key target, per Wikipedia (web ID: 1).

Diplomatic Dynamics

The delegations reflect differing priorities: Ukraine sent its Defense Minister, signaling a focus on security, while Russia dispatched a senator, ex-diplomat, and an FSB official, indicating a lower-level commitment, per The Guardian (web ID: 0). Peskov’s cautious tone contrasts with Witkoff’s optimism, highlighting the challenges ahead in achieving even a limited truce.

As of 12:00 PM PDT, the talks in Riyadh continue, with Monday’s Russia-U.S. discussions pivotal for any breakthrough, though battlefield dynamics and divergent goals may prolong the conflict.