US negotiators are in talks with Ukrainian and Russian counterparts in Riyadh. The aim is to bring about an immediate partial ceasefire in Ukraine, followed by a comprehensive peace deal. But will the Riyadh talks produce the breakthrough so many are hoping for? It depends on who you listen to. Some feel that Putin wants peace and that progress will be seen in Saudi Arabia on Monday. However, others have dampened expectations, saying that the discussions are only at the beginning. Kyiv suffered a heavy attack from Russian drones on Saturday night, with three people killed, including a five-year-old girl. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that they need Putin to give a real order to stop the strikes. The Kremlin seems in no rush to sign up to a ceasefire, with Vladimir Putin adding “nuances” before agreeing to the 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington and agreed to by Kyiv. In Riyadh, the US-Ukraine talks began behind closed doors, focusing on safeguarding energy facilities and critical infrastructure. Both sides have carried out destructive attacks on each other’s infrastructure. Moscow has targeted Ukraine’s electricity generation, while Kyiv has been successful in its long-range drone strikes on Russian oil facilities. Ukraine’s leadership is trying to convince Washington that they are not the obstacle to peace and quickly agreed to the terms of a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire proposed by the Americans. However, there is little or no pressure, at least in public, from the Trump administration on Russia to fall into line. In fact, some have suggested that Ukraine is a “false country” and Russia had been provoked.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly65gm5jp9o