US commences peace discussions with Ukraine and Russia in Saudi Arabia

Negotiations for peace between the U.S. and Russian delegations, with the goal of ending the conflict in Ukraine, are currently happening in Saudi Arabia as reported by the media. 

These talks were prompted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement that a delegation from Ukraine had a productive meeting with the American team in Riyadh the day before.

“Our team is approaching this discussion in a constructive manner, and the conversation has been productive. The delegations are continuing their work. However, regardless of the current topics being discussed with our allies, it is essential for Putin to give a clear directive to halt the attacks because the responsibility for initiating this war should also involve ending it,” Zelenskyy remarked.

The U.S. delegation meeting with the Russians on Monday is led by Andrew Peek, a senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, the director of the policy planning staff at the State Department, Reuters reported. It added that the Russians are represented by Grigory Karasin, the leader of the Russian upper house of parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of Russia’s Federal Security Service. 

In this photo taken on March 21, Ukraine’s 24th Mechanized Brigade attend a dedication ceremony for soldiers near the frontline in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukraine’s 24th Mechanized Brigade via AP)

“This is a much different situation than it was in World War II. There was no NATO,” he added. “I take him at his word in this sense.”

“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,” Witkoff also said Sunday. 

Firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in the Donetsk region in Ukraine on Monday, March 24. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russia launched a massive drone attack targeting Kyiv and other major cities in Ukraine overnight on Sunday, highlighting just how far there is to go before a peace agreement can be made. 

Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.