US Peace Talks with Ukraine and Russia Begin in Saudi Arabia

The much-anticipated peace talks between U.S. and Russian delegations aimed at resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine began on Monday in Saudi Arabia. Reports suggest this high-stakes meeting comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called discussions with an American team in Riyadh on Sunday "quite useful."

"Our team is working in a fully constructive manner, and the discussion is quite useful. The work of delegations continues. But no matter what we’re discussing with our partners right now, Putin must be pushed to issue a real order to stop the strikes – because the one who brought this war must be the one to take it back," Zelenskyy stated, setting a sharp tone for the ongoing negotiations.

Monday's U.S. delegation is led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, director of policy planning at the State Department. Representing Russia are Grigory Karasin, who heads the Foreign Affairs Committee in Russia's upper house of parliament, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of Russia’s Federal Security Service.

The talks reportedly focus on a potential ceasefire in the Black Sea, according to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, citing U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Future discussions are expected to cover complex issues like ceasefire verification, peacekeeping contingents, and territorial ownership.

Steve Witkoff, a special envoy under former President Donald Trump, shared his perspective on the situation. "I don’t believe President Putin wants to invade all of Europe," Witkoff stated during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday." He added, "This is a much different situation than it was in World War II. There was no NATO then. I take him at his word in this sense."

Witkoff remained optimistic about the talks, anticipating progress on the Black Sea 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 said.

However, the road to peace is far from smooth. Just hours before the talks, Russia launched a massive drone attack targeting Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities, killing seven people. The attack underscores the ongoing violence and the monumental challenges faced by negotiators in Riyadh.

This latest development highlights the urgency of the peace talks, but also the deep rift that must be bridged. While the world watches, one can only hope these discussions mark the beginning of a meaningful path to resolution.