Despite discussions between US, Russian, and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, no agreement was reached regarding a ceasefire after nearly three years of fighting in Ukraine. Russia is demanding that the US pressure Kyiv into agreeing to a new deal concerning the Black Sea, a key export route.
US President Donald Trump has pushed for a swift end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, hoping the latest round of talks would set the stage for a truce. However, Kyiv only held a brief second round of talks with US officials on Tuesday, following a marathon of talks between the US and Russia the day before, which ended without a breakthrough.
Earlier this month, Ukraine had agreed to a US-proposed unconditional ceasefire, but Russia rejected it, accusing Ukraine of seeking more battlefield advantage before negotiations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear that Moscow was not prepared to agree to a broader ceasefire but instead demanded a revised Black Sea deal that would better serve Russian exports.
“We are, as the president said, open to restarting the Black Sea Initiative in a more acceptable way for all parties,” Lavrov stated. He emphasized that Russia does not want any external pressures on its grain and fertilizer markets. The previous Black Sea agreement allowed safe passage for millions of tons of Ukrainian grain, but Russia argued that it was unfavorable to its own trade interests.
Lavrov further insisted that the US should “order” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team to enter such a deal. He accused Western nations of attempting to “contain” Russia, likening the situation to efforts by Napoleon and Hitler.
Ukraine has not publicly commented on the outcome of the latest round of talks. A source within the Ukrainian delegation mentioned that discussions had been cut short after beginning on Tuesday.
Earlier, the US and Russian delegations had held 12 hours of talks, but the Kremlin revealed it was still “analysing” the discussions and had no immediate plans for a follow-up meeting. While the Trump administration has expressed sympathetic views toward Russia, Ukraine and its European allies remain concerned that the US may concede to the Kremlin’s demands.
As the diplomatic talks continued in Saudi Arabia, ground attacks between Russia and Ukraine intensified. Ukrainian officials reported shooting down 78 out of 139 Russian drones on Tuesday. Meanwhile, in the northeastern city of Sumy, a Russian strike on Monday left 101 people wounded, including 23 children. The strike hit a residential area near the Russian border while talks were taking place in Riyadh.
The attack in Sumy resulted in 14 adults and 16 children being hospitalized, with one adult and one child in serious condition. Ukrainian forces have been facing persistent Russian advances along the frontlines, with Russia recently claiming to have captured two more villages in southern and eastern Ukraine.
While the Kremlin has downplayed expectations for a quick resolution to the conflict, it remains engaged in ongoing dialogue. A Russian negotiator, Grigory Karasin, described the talks with the US as “intense” and “useful,” though he acknowledged that many issues remain unresolved. Moscow intends to continue these discussions and involve the United Nations and other countries in the process.
Ukraine has consistently accused Russia of delaying serious efforts to halt the fighting, complicating any real progress toward peace.
