Ceasefire Talks Between Russia and Ukraine Scheduled for Sunday in Saudi Arabia

Ceasefire talks regarding the Russia-Ukraine war are set for Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, led by U.S. officials. Despite initial agreements on certain proposals, Ukraine has accused Russia of continuing attacks. The U.S. seeks a full 30-day ceasefire to lead to broader negotiations.

On Sunday, ceasefire negotiations pertaining to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This announcement was made by Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump, during a recent interview on Fox News. Witkoff emphasized that discussions regarding a ceasefire would commence, although specifics about the opposing parties in the negotiations were not disclosed.

Witkoff revealed that the U.S. delegation will be headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio alongside National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. He highlighted an agreement between the U.S. and Russia concerning a ceasefire in energy infrastructure and other targets within the Black Sea. Witkoff expressed optimism regarding Ukraine’s potential agreement to this arrangement.

Notably, Ukraine has accused Russia of effectively dismissing the U.S.-endorsed ceasefire initiative, noting that they continued to strike civilian infrastructures shortly after Russia’s preliminary consent to suspend attacks on energy grids. The U.S. aims for a comprehensive cessation of hostilities lasting 30 days as an initial move toward resolving the ongoing three-year conflict.

During a phone conversation with Trump, President Putin articulated that any ceasefire would rely on eliminating military aid from Ukraine’s allies. The Kremlin subsequently stated that Putin had directed his military to suspend attacks on Ukrainian energy installations for thirty days. Despite this, Witkoff reaffirmed that the ceasefire proposals encompass broader energy and infrastructure aspects.

Witkoff praised President Putin for his contributions during the call and expressed his belief that with agreements in place concerning energy infrastructures and Black Sea targets, the distance to achieving an overall ceasefire is significantly short.

The upcoming ceasefire talks in Jeddah represent a pivotal moment in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with U.S. officials seeking a resolution to a war that has persisted for three years. While both Russians and Ukrainians initially agreed to discussions regarding energy-related ceasefire points, the situation remains delicate, with one side accusing the other of continued hostilities. Success in these negotiations may pave the way for future peace initiatives and a subsequent reduction in violence.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com