Treading Water: Ceasefire Talks Centered on the Black Sea

U.S. and Russian officials completed talks in Saudi Arabia aiming to negotiate a Black Sea maritime ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. Despite ongoing missile strikes in Ukraine, the discussions are part of Trump's broader strategy to diplomatically resolve the three-year-old conflict.

US and Russian officials focused on negotiating a Black Sea maritime ceasefire during talks in Saudi Arabia. The discussions aim to de-escalate tensions between Kyiv and Moscow as part of a diplomatic strategy led by President Donald Trump to end the ongoing conflict.

While talks were underway, Russian missile strikes resulted in significant damage to Ukrainian infrastructure, injuring at least 74 individuals. Though the meetings are a step towards peace, there is no clear agreement yet, as revealed by a source who indicated a joint draft awaits Moscow and Washington's approval.

Despite a proposed 30-day ceasefire being rejected by Russia, the negotiations continue with a focus on smaller concessions, such as halting attacks on energy infrastructure. Discussions also touched upon boundary demarcations and control over power plants, signaling a complex diplomatic landscape.

(With inputs from agencies.)