**US and Ukrainian Delegations Meet in Riyadh**
A new meeting between the US and Ukrainian delegations has started in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This comes after 12 hours of US-Russia talks on March 24, which focused on Washington‘s push for a potential Black Sea ceasefire.
**Ongoing Peace Efforts**
The talks are part of US President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a ceasefire and a broader peace agreement in Ukraine. Trump has said the US-Ukraine negotiations include discussions on territorial matters, demarcation lines, and the status of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
**Previous Meetings**
The US initially planned to meet with both Ukraine and Russia on the same day, but President Volodymyr Zelensky later said the first meeting with Kyiv would take place on March 23. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov led Kyiv’s delegation and said military, diplomatic, and energy representatives were participating in the discussions.
**Key Issues**
The conversation was constructive and meaningful, according to Umerov, who wrote that they discussed key issues, including those related to the energy sector. The Black Sea Initiative was a key topic in US-Russia talks in Riyadh, confirmed Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
**Concerns Over Russia’s Intentions**
There are concerns that Moscow is deliberately stalling peace efforts to strengthen its position. The Kremlin claimed last week that it had ordered a 30-day halt to strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following a phone call between Trump and Putin. However, Kyiv accused Russia of continuing attacks against civilian targets.
**Russia Accused of Provocation**
On March 21, Russia accused Ukraine of shelling the Sudzha gas metering station in Kursk Oblast, but Ukraine’s General Staff denied the claim, calling it a staged provocation.
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