5 months ago
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(NewsNation) — U.S. and Russian officials are meeting successful Saudi Arabia to erstwhile again sermon a potential ceasefire with Ukraine.
The talks began aboriginal Monday successful Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Russia's TASS and RIA-Novosti quality agencies reported. The meetings were preceded by — and are expected to beryllium followed by — further negotiations betwixt the United States and Ukraine.
The meetings travel connected the heels of Russia launching astir 100 drones astatine Ukraine overnight. Conversely, Moscow said it intercepted astir 30 drones launched by Ukraine.
Russian drones killed astatine slightest 3 people — including a five-year-old — successful Kyiv implicit the weekend, Ukrainian officials told the Associated Press.
The ceasefire could intermission long-range attacks from some Russia and Ukraine against vigor facilities and civilian infrastructure, arsenic good arsenic halt attacks successful the Black Sea to guarantee harmless commercialized shipping.
There is an added propulsion coming from the U.S. for a solution arsenic rapidly arsenic possible, though President Donald Trump told reporters determination is nary steadfast deadline for the Russians to marque a ceasefire decision.
"Not a deadline, but I deliberation we'll person one," Trump said. "They're going astatine it beauteous heavy. But I deliberation we'll person 1 reasonably soon."
Officials anticipation Monday's talks volition let negotiators to robust retired details of a possible constricted ceasefire betwixt Russia and Ukraine. Already, the 2 sides person agreed to a constricted ceasefire connected vigor sites, but determination is not yet connection connected erstwhile oregon however that would travel into the fold.
The U.S. held a bid of talks with Ukraine implicit the weekend, and the takeaway from American enactment successful Kyiv is that the discussions person been productive — but that determination are inactive immoderate gaps to bridge
"So, determination are grievances connected some sides. But our occupation and astatine the direction, again, I stress, of the president, our occupation is to constrictive the issues, bring the parties unneurotic and stop the killing. That's the crippled plan," Steve Witkoff, Trump's peculiar envoy to the Middle East, said connected "Fox News Sunday."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that his state is unfastened to a full, 30-day ceasefire projected by Trump. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a implicit ceasefire conditional connected a halt of arms supplies to Kyiv and a suspension of Ukraine’s subject mobilization — demands rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
