Ukraine and U.S. prepare for critical ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will head the Ukrainian delegation during talks in Saudi Arabia, Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday.
- Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation in the talks in Riyadh.
- The meeting will address the details of the ceasefire in the war with Russia.
- Ukraine has accepted the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has not agreed to the proposed conditions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the delegation representing Ukraine will consist of highly qualified experts who are exceptionally skilled in technical matters. He added that the defense minister would also be present and expressed confidence that the team would be prepared to act swiftly and effectively.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tykhyi emphasized that the meeting scheduled for Monday in Riyadh is not political in nature but technical. "This is a meeting to establish the parameters for the various proposed ceasefire options currently on the table," said Tykhyi.
"We need to understand how it will work"
The spokesperson stated that a ceasefire could be in place if Vladimir Putin and Russia had accepted the proposal. However, Tykhyi noted that instead, the Kremlin continues introducing new conditions, engaging in selective discussions, and putting forward manipulative proposals. He stressed that Ukraine considers the talks in Riyadh to be bilateral discussions with the United States, viewing them as a technical stage rather than a political negotiation.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson explained that the discussions will focus on the specifics and execution of decisions already made at the political level. He emphasized the need for Ukrainian and American experts to meet and discuss the details, such as the structure, oversight, and mechanisms for monitoring the initiative.
He noted that the Ukrainian side does not know how Americans will communicate with the Russians in Saudi Arabia. "It's their choice. But we're preparing for the talks in Saudi Arabia as a bilateral Ukrainian-American event," he declared.
This week, US President Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump and Putin agreed to a 30-day ceasefire regarding energy facilities and infrastructure, but this agreement is narrower than Ukraine's accepted American proposal.
