Ukraine and U.S. delegations meet in Riyadh: key topics discussed

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced the start of the talks on Facebook. 

“We’ve started the meeting with the American team in Riyadh. We are implementing the President of Ukraine’s directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security,” Umerov said. 

According to him, proposals regarding the security of energy and infrastructure facilities are currently under consideration.

“Today, we’re working through a number of complex technical issues — our delegation includes energy experts as well as military representatives from the naval and air components,” the Defense Minister added. 

At about 10:30 p.m., Umerov shared that the delegations' talks had ended. 

“We have concluded our meeting with the American team.

The discussion was productive and focused — we addressed key points including energy,” the minister said.

Background

Earlier, Reuters reported that on March 23, representatives of Ukraine and the United States would meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss a possible partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. 

The publication noted that the meeting will occur one day before scheduled talks on Monday, March 24, between American and Russian delegations.

Report said that the Ukrainian delegation at Sunday's meeting will be led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said this fact would allow Kyiv to act in a "very quick and very substantive."

However, Ukrainian officials emphasized that they view this meeting in Riyadh as purely technical.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi stated that both sides aim to clarify the modalities, nuances of potential ceasefire regimes, how to monitor and control them, and what they would entail.

The day before, in Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the military cabinet, during which he listened to reports from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Khatov. Also attending were Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak and his deputy Pavlo Palisa, according to the Presidential Office's website.

In addition to the front-line situation, the meeting also focused on preparations for the upcoming meeting with the American delegation, which will take place in Saudi Arabia on March 23.

• On March 22, the Washington Post reported that talks would be held in Saudi Arabia between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations regarding a ceasefire. These talks will not be direct, meaning the Ukrainian delegation will not meet with the Russian delegation.