Delegations for the United States and Ukraine are slated to meet on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to continue discussing the ceasefire proposal for the Russia-Ukraine war.
Both countries confirmed earlier this week that ceasefire negotiations would continue in the Middle East, with Russia also expected to participate. That confirmation followed a promising phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the White House expressing that an end to the war that has entered its third year has “never been closer.”
Now, a meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine is set for Sunday, while a separate one between the U.S. and Russia is expected on Monday, according to CNN. More meetings between the countries are likely.
Zelensky also confirmed the Sunday peace talks in a post on X, saying he and his military Cabinet on Saturday “prepared for the meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations, that will take place tomorrow in Saudi Arabia.”
The expected meetings in the Middle East come after ceasefire negotiations appeared to hit a roadblock in the last week when Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Tuesday. In the call, Putin did not agree to the U.S.-Ukraine proposal of a 30-day ceasefire. He called it “good” in theory but questioned whether such an arrangement would allow Ukraine to regroup and bolster its defenses.
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Zelensky has been critical of Putin’s hesitance in the negotiations, saying he “effectively rejected the proposal for a full ceasefire” in the call with Trump and accused Putin of trying to prolong the conflict.
The ceasefire talks starting this weekend are seen as crucial for Ukraine as its struggling military continues to give up ground in its own country and in its Russia-occupied land. The talks are also a test of Russia’s desire to end the conflict as it makes advances in the war.
