LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 2: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares for a plenary meeting at Lancaster House during the European leaders' summit on March 2, 2025 in London, England. Following this week's meetings between Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and US President Donald Trump, a meeting convenes in London with European leaders to discuss future peace in Ukraine. (Photo by Justin Tallis - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Washington D.C. – The latest round of ceasefire talks between the United States and Russia, aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine, ended without a written agreement on Tuesday. Despite expectations from both media and the public for a clear statement, the Kremlin announced that the discussions in Saudi Arabia did not yield the desired results, citing Ukraine’s position as the main obstacle.
In an interview with Russian state television, Vladimir Chizhov, the first deputy chairman of Russia’s defense committee, explained the breakdown. He said the two sides had spent over 12 hours discussing terms and appeared to have agreed on a joint statement. However, Ukraine’s stance on the matter prevented any formal agreement from being reached. “This was not adopted due to Ukraine’s position,” Chizhov stated, adding that this delay was “very characteristic and symptomatic” of the current situation.
While the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, it is clear that both sides have agreed, in principle, to a 30-day ceasefire. However, Russia has imposed strict conditions that Ukraine sees as tantamount to a surrender, rendering any potential peace talks nearly impossible. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to be under heavy attack, with Russia carrying out nightly drone strikes across the country.
The conflict rages on, with the Ukrainian city of Sumy reeling from a recent attack that left 101 people injured, including 23 children. Russian forces launched 139 Shahed drones, designed by Iran, into Ukraine overnight. While 78 of them were shot down, the remaining drones caused damage across several regions, including Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kyiv, and Odessa. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned Russia’s continued attacks, urging the international community to back up diplomatic efforts with “firepower, sanctions, and pressure.”
Despite the mounting casualties and continued attacks on civilian infrastructure, there are differing perspectives on the ceasefire’s potential. U.S. officials remain optimistic that progress is being made, despite the collapse of a similar ceasefire in Gaza. On the other hand, Russian officials acknowledge the complexity of the talks, but are cautious about any long-term outcomes.
One of the critical issues discussed was the future of the “Black Sea Initiative,” a deal originally meant to help Ukraine export grain while alleviating some of the economic sanctions on Russia’s food and fertilizer exports. Moscow rejected the deal in 2023, citing the failure of Western nations to uphold their side of the agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that any renewal of this deal would require “clear guarantees,” which he insists can only come from the U.S. government directing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump weighed in on the discussions, revealing that talks had also touched on territory and “lines of demarcation,” as well as a proposal for the U.S. to take control of a key nuclear power plant in Ukraine. “Something like that would be fine with me,” Trump commented, referring to the potential arrangement.
As these high-stakes talks continue, Ukraine remains caught in a tragic and unrelenting conflict. Despite efforts for a ceasefire, Russia’s ongoing aggression and stringent demands leave little room for optimism that peace is on the horizon.
