Riyadh, March 25 — US negotiators met with Russian officials in Riyadh on Monday to discuss a proposed partial ceasefire in Ukraine, a day after holding separate talks with Ukrainian representatives. Despite diplomatic efforts, both sides continued launching cross-border strikes.
The talks aimed to iron out disagreements over ceasefire terms, including which targets would be off-limits. While the White House stated that “energy and infrastructure” were covered, the Kremlin claimed the agreement applied only to “energy infrastructure.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wants protections extended to railways and ports.
Grigory Karasin, head of Russia’s upper house foreign affairs committee, described the negotiations as “creative,” noting that both sides “understand each other’s views.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian adviser Serhii Leshchenko said Kyiv’s delegation remained in Riyadh and expected further discussions with US officials.
US President Donald Trump, who recently proposed the US take control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, said territorial lines and the facility’s ownership were also part of the talks. “Some people are saying the US should own the power plant… we have the expertise,” Trump said.
Despite the diplomatic efforts, hostilities persisted. Russia claimed to have downed a Ukrainian drone targeting an oil pumping station in southern Russia, while accusing Kyiv of violating the ceasefire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine was undermining the agreement by striking Russian energy sites, including a gas metering station in Kursk. Kyiv denied the allegations, blaming Russia for shelling its own station.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military reported destroying four Russian helicopters in Belgorod using US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems. In Sumy, a Russian missile strike hit residential buildings and a school, injuring 65 people, including 14 children, according to the regional prosecutor’s office.
Amid the violence, Ukraine’s state railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, suffered a massive cyberattack on Sunday. Though the incident disrupted online booking, the company stated that train services remained unaffected.
In a separate development, China ruled out sending peacekeepers to Ukraine. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed reports of potential Chinese intervention as “completely false,” reaffirming that China has provided no military support to Russia, despite offering trade and diplomatic backing.
