US, Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia to talk ceasefire
(NewsNation) — U.S. and Russian officials are meeting in Saudi Arabia to once again discuss a potential ceasefire with Ukraine.
The talks began early Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Russia's TASS and RIA-Novosti news agencies reported. The meetings were preceded by — and are expected to be followed by — additional negotiations between the United States and Ukraine.
The meetings come on the heels of Russia launching nearly 100 drones at Ukraine overnight. Conversely, Moscow said it intercepted nearly 30 drones launched by Ukraine.
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Russian drones killed at least three people — including a five-year-old — in Kyiv over the weekend, Ukrainian officials told the Associated Press.
The ceasefire could pause long-range attacks from both Russia and Ukraine against energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, as well as halt attacks in the Black Sea to ensure safe commercial shipping.
There is an added push coming from the U.S. for a solution as quickly as possible, though President Donald Trump told reporters there is no firm deadline for the Russians to make a ceasefire decision.
'Not a deadline, but I think we'll have one,' Trump said. 'They're going at it pretty heavy. But I think we'll have one fairly soon.'
Officials hope Monday's talks will allow negotiators to iron out details of a possible limited ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Already, the two sides have agreed to a limited ceasefire on energy sites, but there is not yet word on when or how that would come into the fold.
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The U.S. held a series of talks with Ukraine over the weekend, and the takeaway from American leadership in Kyiv is that the discussions have been productive — but that there are still some gaps to bridge
'So, there are grievances on both sides. But our job and at the direction, again, I stress, of the president, our job is to narrow the issues, bring the parties together and stop the killing. That's the game plan,' Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, said on 'Fox News Sunday.'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that his country is open to a full, 30-day ceasefire proposed by Trump. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a complete ceasefire conditional on a halt of arms supplies to Kyiv and a suspension of Ukraine's military mobilization — demands rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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