US-Russia Peace Talks on Ukraine Conflict Underway in Riyadh:

Amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, US officials are engaging in indirect peace negotiations with Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to Russian news agency TASS via AFP. The discussions, aimed at reducing hostilities, follow a deadly drone strike by Russia on Kyiv and other cities, which killed at least seven civilians.

Ukraine Calls Talks “Productive”, Focus on Energy and Lasting Peace

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who is leading Kyiv’s delegation, called the talks “productive” in a post on X. He said discussions focused on energy security and working towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s vision of a “just and lasting peace.”

We have concluded our meeting with the American team.
The discussion was productive and focused — we addressed key points including energy.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s goal is to secure a just and lasting peace for our country and our people — and, by extension, for all of…
— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) March 23, 2025

These discussions come as former US President Donald Trump, intensifying his peace drive, has spoken directly with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent days.

Black Sea Ceasefire and Broader Truce Sought

According to Reuters, the US delegation is pushing for a Black Sea ceasefire as a first step toward a broader cessation of violence. Trump’s efforts have reportedly influenced both sides to consider temporary halts to infrastructure attacks. Last week, Putin agreed to Trump’s proposal to pause attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days and issued a directive to the Russian military.

However, the agreement fell short of a complete 30-day ceasefire, which the US and Ukraine had advocated.

Kremlin: Peace Process at Early Stage

Despite the meetings, the Kremlin has tempered expectations, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating, “We are only at the beginning of this path.” The statement reflects Russia’s cautious stance on the possibility of a swift resolution.

While the US is reportedly targeting a ceasefire agreement by April 20, as per Bloomberg News, hostilities on the ground continue, with both Ukraine and Russia reporting ongoing strikes and slow Russian advances in eastern Ukraine.