The US and Russian officials convened themselves in Saudi Arabia on Monday to negotiate a partial ceasefire in Ukraine, even as a dozens in the war-bound country.
While diplomats met in a luxury hotel in Riad, 74 people were injured in a rocket attack on Sumy, a northeastern Ukrainian city.
The strike met a “densely populated residential area”, harmful apartments and an educational institution, said local officials. The incumbent mayor of the city reported that a hospital was also affected.
Diplomacy with high inserts
The ceasefire negotiations come because former US President Donald Trump urges an accelerated resolution for the Three Year War.
The US delegation, which was led by Senior Director of the National Security Council, Andrew Peek and the Senior State Ministry Michael Anton, was involved with the shuttle diplomacy between Ukrainian and Russian representatives.
The Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, who headed Kyiv's delegation, described the talks on Sunday with the USA as “productive and focused”.
The Ukrainian team awaited a follow-up meeting on Monday that signaled potential progress.
Black sea gun fire
The discussions were mainly about reviving the Black Sea Initiative, a grain export agreement that previously enabled millions of tons of Ukrainian agricultural products to achieve global markets.
Russia withdrew from the deal in 2023 and accused the West, obligations to facilitate sanctions on its own agricultural exports and fertilizers.
“This was President Trump's proposal and President Putin agreed,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and confirmed the Moscow agenda for the talks.
The Trump-sent Steve Witkoff expressed optimism and said Fox News: “I think you will see real progress in Saudi Arabia, especially with a ceasefire from Schwarz Sea. Of course, a broader ceasefire could follow.”
Putin's counter offer
However, Moscow alleviated the expectations of a quick resolution.
At the weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a common US Ukrainian proposal for an immediate 30-day armistice. Instead, he suggested stopping attacks on the energy infrastructure.
“We are only at the beginning of this path,” said Peskov in an interview with the Russian state media. “There are difficult negotiations.”
A high-ranking Ukrainian official previously told Agence France press (AFP) that Kyiv would propose a wider ceasefire that would include energy devices, infrastructure and naval attacks.
Evalence escalates before the conversations
Even when the negotiations took place, both sides strengthened the military actions.
The Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian drone strike in Kyiv killed three civilians, including a five-year-old girl and her father.
In the meantime, the Ukrainian National Railway operator fought cyber attacks for a second day in a row.
Despite the tensions, Russia joined the talks after a diplomatic thaw with Washington under Trump with new trust in the talks.
“The potential for mutual cooperation between our countries cannot be overestimated,” said Peskov. “We may not agree with some things, but that doesn't mean that we should avoid mutual use.”
