Kyiv expects new US-Ukraine meeting in Riyadh: Ukrainian source

Ukraine is expecting to meet US officials to continue discussing a potential ceasefire, after a round of ‘productive’ talks between negotiators from Russia and America continue.

American and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a partial ceasefire in Ukraine on Monday, local time, a day after US-Ukraine talks there and as President Donald Trump pushes to quickly end the war.

The US and Russian teams huddled behind closed doors at a luxurious hotel in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, with a possible revival of a 2022 Black Sea ceasefire on the table.

The Ukrainian team, which held talks with United States officials in the same venue on Sunday, is expecting a second meeting with the Americans on Monday, a source in Kyiv told AFP, a sign that progress may have been made.

The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh where talks are underway with US mediation to try to reach a ceasefire in the Russia Ukraine war. Picture: Fayez Nureldine / AFP

It comes as US and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia wrapped up “productive and focused” talks on de-escalating the war with Russia, whose delegation was set to hold its own separate discussions with the Americans on Monday.

US President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes the talks in Riyadh can pave the way to a breakthrough, but the Kremlin has warned of “difficult negotiations” ahead.

Despite both warring sides proposing different plans for temporary ceasefires, attacks have continued unabated.

US President Donald Trump is pushing for an end to the three-year war. Picture: AFP

Originally scheduled to take place simultaneously to enable shuttle diplomacy — with the US going back and forth between the delegations — the technical-level talks on a partial truce are now taking place separately, one after the other.

The meeting between the Ukrainian team, led by defence minister Rustem Umerov, and the Americans finished up late on Sunday night, local time, Mr Umerov said.

US President Donald Trump greets Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives at the White House last month, shortly before the clash that shocked the world. Picture: AFP

“The discussion was productive and focused — we addressed key points including energy,” he said on social media, adding Ukraine was working to make its goal of a “just and lasting peace” a reality.

Umerov had previously said proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure would be on the agenda.

In an evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that “Russia is the only one who is dragging this war out”.

“No matter what we talk about with our partners, we need to push Putin to give a real order to stop the strikes: the one who brought this war must take it away,” he said.

Discussions between the United States and Russia were set for Monday, local time, with Russian state media reporting Moscow’s delegation had arrived in Riyadh.

A Ukrainian serviceman prepares to launch a FPV drone. Picture: AFP

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff voiced optimism that any agreement struck would pave the way to a “full-on” ceasefire.

“I think you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire,” he told Fox News.

A Ukrainian serviceman prepares an FPV drone prior to it being launched towards Russian positions in the Donetsk region. Picture: AFP

But the Kremlin downplayed expectations of a rapid resolution, saying talks were just beginning.

“We are only at the beginning of this path,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state TV.

He said there were many outstanding questions over how a potential ceasefire might be implemented.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a joint US-Ukrainian call for a full and immediate 30-day pause, proposing instead a halt in attacks only on energy facilities.

“There are difficult negotiations ahead,” Mr Peskov said in the interview, published on social media.

ZELENSKY: NEW PRESSURE NEEDED ON MOSCOW

Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Ukraine’s allies to put fresh pressure on Moscow to end the war, after Russian drones targeted Kyiv, killing at least three people, according to local authorities.

“New decisions and new pressure on Moscow are needed to bring an end to these strikes and this war,” Mr Zelensky posted on social media on the eve of parallel talks between the two sides with US officials on a partial truce.

A damaged residential building is seen following a drone attack in Kyiv on March 23. Picture: Genya Savilov/AFP

It came as Russian drone strikes on the Ukrainian capital overnight killed at least three people and wounded 10, Kyiv authorities said on Sunday.

“According to the available information, three people died, including a five-year-old child. Another 10 people were wounded,” the Kyiv city military administration said on Telegram.

Among the wounded, “the youngest victim was … only 11 months old”, it said.

The drones targeted several districts of Kyiv, mainly hitting residential buildings and causing large fires, according to footage circulating on social media.

Russian and Ukrainian delegations are due to hold parallel ceasefire talks with US representatives in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

47 DRONES DESTROYED BY RUSSIA AMID TENSIONS WITH UKRAINE

Russia said it had intercepted 47 Ukrainian drones in attacks on several regions that injured six people.

Russia and Ukraine have stepped up aerial attacks even as US President Donald Trump pushes the Kremlin and Kyiv to agree to a ceasefire after more than three years of costly fighting.

Employees walk on the rubble of a shopping mall destroyed following a drone attack in Odesa on March 21, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Picture: AFP

The 47 drones were “destroyed or intercepted” over the regions of Voronezh, Belgorod, Rostov, Volgograd and Astrakhan among others, the defence ministry said Saturday.

In Rostov a drone attack damaged several apartments, wounding two, the region’s governor Yuri Sliusar said.

Russia’s emergencies ministry said in Gorlovka, part of the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine, a fire truck was struck by a drone and four employees were injured.

‘NOTHING HAS CHANGED’: RUSSIA ACCUSED OF STRIKE

Mr Zelensky told EU leaders that Moscow continued strikes on Ukraine’s energy system despite Mr Putin agreeing with Mr Trump to halt attacks.

“Yesterday evening, another Russian strike hit our energy infrastructure. We in Ukraine face this every day and night, you know it. And despite Putin’s words about allegedly being ready to stop the attacks – nothing has changed,” Mr Zelensky told an EU summit by video call.

Mr Zelensky also said Moscow must stop making “unnecessary demands” that extend the war, calling for sanctions on Russia to remain in place until it begins pulling out of Ukrainian territory.

Firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in Dobropillya, Donetsk region, Ukraine. Picture: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

The scene following a Russian drone attack in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Thursday, March 20, 2025. Picture: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP

Rescuers working at a site of a strike in Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovograd region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Picture: Ukrainian State Emergency Service / AFP

“Putin must stop making unnecessary demands that only prolong the war and must start fulfilling what he promises the world,” he told EU leaders by video call, according to an official transcript.

“Sanctions must remain in place until Russia starts withdrawing from our land and fully compensates for the damage caused by its aggression.”

Originally published as Kyiv expects new US-Ukraine meeting in Riyadh: Ukrainian source