Ukraine, US teams meet in Saudi on ending war; talks with Russia today

KYIV/RIYADH: Ukrainian and US officials began talks on Sunday on proposals to safeguard energy facilities and critical infrastructure, Ukraine's defence minister said, part of a diplomatic push by US President Donald Trump to end three years of war.

The meeting in Saudi Arabia, which precedes talks on Monday between the US and Russian teams, came as US special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about chances for ending Europe's deadliest conflict since WWII. "I feel that (Russian President Putin) wants peace," Witkoff said. "I think that 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 into a full-on shooting ceasefire." White House NSA Mike Waltz said the US was talking through a range of measures aimed at ending the war, including on the future of Ukrainian children taken into Russia.

Announcing the start of the Riyadh talks, Ukraine's defence minister Rustem Umerov, who is heading his country's delegation: "We are implementing the President of Ukraine's directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security." Putin agreed last week to Trump's proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, but that narrowly defined ceasefire was soon cast into doubt, with both sides reporting continued strikes. A Russian attack overnight killed at least three people, including a 5-year-old child, causing fires and damage throughout Kyiv. Meanwhile, Russian authorities said their air defences had destroyed 59 Ukrainian drones, adding the strikes had killed one person in Rostov.

The US hopes to reach a broad ceasefire within weeks, targeting a truce agreement by April 20, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the planning.

Trump's contacts with Putin - two publicly announced calls but possibly other exchanges too - have spooked European leaders who fear US could be turning its back on Europe in the hope of striking a peace deal with Russia as part of some broader bargain encompassing oil prices, West Asia and competition with China. However, Witkoff said: "I just don't see that he wants to take all of Europe. This is a much different situation than it was in WWII."