Talks on the US proposal for a partial ceasefire in Ukraine are scheduled to resume on Monday with officials from Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and Russian.
Ukrainian President Voldimi Zelenkie spoke at a press conference held in Oslo on Thursday, saying the structure of the meeting scheduled for Monday would allow US officials to meet with Ukrainian experts and hold separate consultations with Russian representatives.
“As my American colleagues said, as my Russian and American colleagues said, there will be some shuttle diplomacy afterwards,” he told reporters after a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gaal.
Yuri Ushakov, president Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, confirmed that bilateral talks between Russia and US authorities will take place in Riyadh on Monday, adding that the focus will be on the safety of shipments in the Black Sea.
Russia will be represented by Grigory Karasin, a former diplomat who currently chairs the Federal Council Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Sergei Betheda, an advisor to the Federal Security Director (FSB).
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when President Putin and US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone Tuesday, they discussed the “Black Sea Initiative.”
Following the call, the White House issued a statement that it agreed to technical negotiations on the implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, as well as implementing a full ceasefire and lasting peace.
Limited ceasefire
Following separate calls with President Donald Trump this week, Ukrainian and Russian leaders agreed to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure, as a rule.
Zelenskyy said Thursday that he had originally sought a wider ceasefire, but he was committed to working with the US to stop weapons directed at electricity production and civilian facilities.
The day before he had indicated that not only energy targets but rail and port infrastructure were intended to be included in the list of facilities that would like to be included in the partial ceasefire.
On Thursday, he said he would not discuss potential US ownership of the Russian-occupied Zaporidia nuclear power plant in Ukraine with Trump after Washington said Washington could take over.
The factory, which has been caught up in Crossfire since Moscow seized Crossfire after invading Ukraine in 2022, is a key asset that produces almost a quarter of Ukraine’s postwar power.
When asked about reports that Trump is considering recognizing Russia’s Crimea as part of Russia, Zelensky said the US president had not raised any issues with him during their call.
The Kremlin has repeatedly said that Crimea, where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is based, is officially part of Russia. The Black Sea Peninsula is internationally recognized by most countries as Ukraine’s territory.
Peacekeeping Conference
In London, Prime Minister Kiel Starmer held a meeting of Western military officials on Thursday to embody the plans for Ukrainian international peacekeeping forces as details of the partial ceasefire were resolved.
President Emmanuel Macron, co-leader of efforts to form the so-called “Willing’s Union,” said he was willing to deploy peacekeeping forces in Ukraine following an idea that Russia had vehemently rejected after a complete ceasefire between Moscow and Keeff.
Macron also said he would be holding discussions about expanding the French nuclear umbrella across the European Union.
Russia’s Sergei Shuig, secretary to the Security Council, said on Thursday that such a statement “reflects the anti-Russian sentiment that controls today in Europe.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Europe of becoming a “war party.”
“In most cases, the signal from Brussels and the European capital has something to do with plans to militarize Europe,” he said.
Moscow also targeted Berlin after Prime Minister Friedrich Merz proposed large defence spending and said that Moscow was launching a “war on aggression against Europe.”
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakhalova said the comments reflected “the desire of German political elites for historical revenge.”
EU Summit
While in Oslo, the Ukrainian leader addressed the summit of EU leaders in Brussels. This saw all member countries sign a joint statement in support of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy speaks to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban’s repeated opposition to EU support for Ukraine, saying Videolink said “when one blocks decisions important to the entire continent, they are simply anti-Europeans.”
Zelenskyy also urged EU leaders to approve a package of at least 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) for Ukraine’s artillery fire, calling for continued pressure on Russia.
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