Russia Kiev and Washington begin talks on ceasefire
A week and a half after disastrous talks in the White House, representatives of the USA and Ukraine have met in the Saudi Arabian coastal city of Jeddah to discuss an end to the Russian war of aggression.
11.03.2025, 14:59
SDA
The Foreign Ministry in Kiev published videos showing the delegations of both countries at the negotiating table. A few hours earlier, Ukraine had attacked Moscow and the surrounding area on a massive scale with drones, according to Russian reports.
The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, who is leading the Ukrainian delegation, was optimistic: Kiev is counting on "very constructive, deep, friendly and partnership-based talks" with the USA, he told journalists before the start.
Jermak will be assisted in the talks by Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov. The US negotiating team will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi is not attending the meeting following the scandal in the White House with US President Donald Trump. Trump and his Vice President J.D. Vance had sharply rebuked the Ukrainian head of state in front of the cameras, accusing him of ingratitude and a lack of desire for peace.
USA expects concessions from Kiev
Before the Jeddah round, Rubio emphasized that diplomacy was the only solution to the war. Both sides must be aware that there is no military solution, he said.
Russia could not conquer the whole of Ukraine and "obviously" it would be very difficult for Ukraine to push the Russians back to where they were in 2014 within a reasonable period of time. Rubio was probably referring to Ukraine's internationally recognized borders.
According to information from the US State Department, Rubio spoke before the meeting about concessions that Ukraine would have to make. The US side would try to understand what Kiev was prepared to do to achieve peace. This could be incompatible with what the Russians are prepared to do. That is what needs to be found out. Rubio hinted that the Ukrainians could also expect more US aid again if the talks went well.
Ukraine proposes gradual easing of tensions
During the talks, Kiev is attempting to launch a proposal put forward by the Europeans. According to this proposal, a ceasefire in the air and at sea should initially ease the situation. This would benefit civilians in particular, who are repeatedly the victims of missile and drone attacks on the hinterland.
Security guarantees are also important to Ukraine. In this way, Kiev wants to prevent Russia from resuming its war of aggression once it has regained its strength.
Russia: Ukraine is trying to disrupt the peace process
Russia is following the talks in Jeddah closely. At the same time, the Kremlin made serious accusations against Kiev over a massive Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian capital and the Moscow region on Tuesday night. While the Americans were trying to mediate and sound out the Ukrainians' desire for peace, they were trying to "spoil the emerging trends", said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
He accused Ukraine of deliberately firing on civilian objects. While Russian soldiers were targeting "military and military-related targets", Ukraine was deliberately shelling residential buildings, he claimed. Civilian casualties and destroyed infrastructure caused by Russian shelling are part of everyday life in Ukraine.
Three dead near Moscow after Ukrainian drone attacks
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 337 Ukrainian drones were destroyed over ten Russian regions during the night. There were 91 drones over the Moscow region alone and 126 over the Kursk region. At least three people were killed in the Moscow region. According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, 74 drones were shot down on approach to the capital - more than ever before.
For safety reasons, no take-offs and landings were permitted at six Russian airports for several hours. Such restrictions occur in connection with drone attacks, as no take-offs and landings are possible due to the deployment of Russian air defenses.
Moscow has so far stuck to its maximum demands
Russia has signaled its willingness to negotiate in principle, but is sticking to its maximum demands. In addition to the areas already conquered, Moscow is also laying claim to other areas that are still under Kiev's control.
The Russian leadership also calls Ukraine's planned accession to NATO unacceptable - and has found an advocate on this point in Trump even before the negotiations began. The demand for the "denazification of Ukraine" is also likely to help Moscow to secure its continued influence on politics in Kiev.
Peskov rejected accusations that these demands were unacceptable. He also denied media reports that Russia was prepared to accept a six-month ceasefire before an actual peace agreement. False reports are often spread in the Western media, he said.
Moscow sees no reason to make concessions. From its point of view, the Kremlin has the upper hand on the front. Most recently, its troops made significant progress in the western Russian region of Kursk, which Ukraine wants to exchange for its own Russian-occupied territories.
