Both Russian and Ukrainian delegations arrive in Saudi Arabia, US busy with mediating role, optimistic peace has never been closer

During the next 48 hours, delegations from Russia and Ukraine will hold separate talks with the US delegation in Saudi Arabia, as President Donald Trump pushes for a quick end to more than three years of conflict in Ukraine.

US and Ukrainian delegations meet in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) on March 11. (Source: Xinhua)

Early on March 24 (Vietnam time), Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that negotiations between US and Ukrainian officials on the possibility of a partial ceasefire in the conflict with Russia had begun in Saudi Arabia.

On Facebook , Mr. Umerov stated: "The agenda includes proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure."

Meanwhile, Russian and US technical expert groups will meet in the Saudi capital Riyadh on March 24 for talks, expected to focus on the Black Sea Grains Initiative.

On the same day, in an interview with CBS News , US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said: "We are closer to peace than ever before."

According to US officials, there was a ceasefire on the air infrastructure immediately after President Trump's phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on March 18, and now the sides will discuss a ceasefire in the Black Sea, so that both sides can transport grain, fuel and start trading again.

The US National Security Advisor added that Washington believes that the next step towards peace in Ukraine will be discussions on the "Line of Control, that is, the actual front lines", going into details on "verification mechanisms, peacekeeping, as well as freezing the defense lines in their current positions".

Earlier, in a phone call between the two Russian and US leaders on March 18, the Kremlin said that Mr. Trump proposed that both sides halt attacks on energy facilities for 30 days. Mr. Putin immediately ordered a halt to the attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Kiev would support this proposal.

Ahead of the talks in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on March 23 downplayed expectations for a quick resolution of the Ukraine conflict, stressing that the dialogue has only just begun.

Saying that there were still many "questions" and "details" unresolved about how a potential ceasefire would be implemented, Peskov said "difficult negotiations still lie ahead".

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ca-phai-doan-nga-va-ukraine-deu-den-saudi-arabia-my-tat-bat-voi-vai-tro-trung-giang-lac-quan-chua-bao-gio-gan-hoa-binh-den-the-308640.html