US-Russia Senior Officials Begin Saudi Talks... Discussing 'Partial Ceasefire Proposal'

After US-Ukraine Talks, Delegations Meet in Saudi Arabia
Full-scale Discussions Expected on 'Partial Ceasefire' and More

Senior delegations from the United States and Russia have begun talks in Saudi Arabia regarding a ceasefire plan for Ukraine.

According to foreign media reports including Russia's TASS news agency on the 24th (local time), the delegations from both countries entered a closed-door meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that morning.

The talks are expected to discuss the 'partial ceasefire plan' for the Russia-Ukraine war, which President Trump agreed upon in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 18th. The plan centers on a 30-day halt to attacks on energy infrastructure by both Russia and Ukraine. President Trump also secured agreement on the ceasefire plan during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the 19th.

Black Sea grain shipments are also expected to be on the agenda. Previously, the United States and Ukraine held talks in Riyadh a day earlier. Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense leading the Ukrainian delegation, stated on X (formerly Twitter) the day before, "The discussions were productive and intensive, and we addressed key issues including energy."

Steve Witkoff, the Middle East special envoy involved in Ukraine war peace negotiations under the Trump administration, said in an interview with Fox News a day before the talks, "We will see substantial progress."

However, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian Kremlin, expressed a cautious stance in an interview with state media on the same day, saying, "We are only at the starting point of the path," and "We face difficult talks ahead."