Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a site of a Russian airstrike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in a location given as Kyiv, Ukraine in this handout picture released on March 23, 2025. State Emergency Service Of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS
Ukraine and U.S. Begin Talks on Energy Security Amid Push for Ceasefire
Ukrainian and U.S. officials began discussions on Sunday regarding measures to protect Ukraine’s energy facilities and critical infrastructure, according to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The talks, held in Saudi Arabia, come as U.S. President Donald Trump continues diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine.
The Riyadh meeting precedes a scheduled U.S.-Russia dialogue on Monday, where U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about progress toward a ceasefire. “I feel that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants peace,” Witkoff told Fox News on Sunday, suggesting that an initial agreement on a Black Sea ceasefire could eventually lead to a broader cessation of hostilities.
Ceasefire Efforts and Ongoing Strikes
Despite Putin agreeing last week to Trump’s proposal for a 30-day halt to attacks on each side’s energy infrastructure, the ceasefire remains fragile. Ukrainian officials reported a large-scale Russian drone assault on Kyiv overnight, which resulted in at least three deaths, including a 5-year-old child. Fires and damage were reported across the capital. Meanwhile, Russian authorities claimed to have destroyed 59 Ukrainian drones targeting southwestern Russia, with at least one casualty in Rostov.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has backed Trump’s call for a broader ceasefire, hoping it will halt Russian advances in the east. However, with continued strikes on both sides, the feasibility of the agreement remains uncertain.
U.S. Seeks Broader Truce by Late April
Trump stated on Saturday that the conflict was “somewhat under control” and that Washington is aiming for a broader ceasefire agreement by April 20, Bloomberg News reported. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz outlined the next steps, saying that after a Black Sea ceasefire, discussions will move toward defining the front lines and establishing mechanisms for peacekeeping and verification.
European Concerns Over U.S.-Russia Talks
Trump’s direct engagement with Putin—through two publicly confirmed phone calls and possibly other undisclosed communications—has raised alarm among European leaders. Many fear the U.S. may prioritize striking a grand bargain with Russia over maintaining strong support for Ukraine. Such a deal could include negotiations on oil prices, Middle Eastern affairs, and geopolitical competition with China.
In response, European nations, led by Britain and France, have ramped up military and logistical support for Ukraine. Several NATO countries are increasing defense spending in an effort to reduce dependence on the U.S.
Despite these concerns, Witkoff dismissed fears that Putin could use any Ukrainian peace deal as a stepping stone for further expansion into Europe. “I just don’t see that he wants to take all of Europe. This is a much different situation than it was in World War Two,” he said.
As talks continue, all sides will be closely watching whether these diplomatic efforts can translate into tangible de-escalation and long-term peace.
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