The U.S. and Russia kicked off a new set of talks Monday aimed at reaching a partial ceasefire in Ukraine with both sides warning the negotiations will be difficult.
Talks will initially focus on a ceasefire in the Black Sea before moving to more complex issues such as ceasefire verification, developing a peacekeeping contingent and the ownership of territories.
Trump administration officials made the rounds on the Sunday talk shows expressing optimism that negotiations will achieve a lasting ceasefire.
“I think you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire,” Steve Witkoff, the White House special envoy to the Middle East, said on “Fox News Sunday.”
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned of “difficult negotiations.”
“There are still many aspects related to the settlement which are to be worked out,” Mr. Peskov told reporters on a media call Monday.
On the eve of the talks, Russia launched 99 drones to attack Ukraine, which could dash the Trump administration’s optimism that a ceasefire is close. The Sunday night attack injured at least one person. A Saturday night drone assault killed three people in Kyiv, including a father and his 5-year-old daughter, according to Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine has attempted to defend itself by returning fire, but the Russian Minister of Defense said its forces had intercepted and destroyed 28 drones sent into Russia on Sunday evening.
“Every night is now a large-scale Russian drone attack,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy said in his nightly address.
Adding to the difficulties is an apparent contradiction about what is on the table. The White House says that banning attacks on “energy and infrastructure” is on the table, but the Kremlin has continued attacks on such facilities. Mr. Zelenskyy has called on expanding a partial ceasefire to include railways and ports.
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would accept a partial 30-day ceasefire covering energy infrastructure, but he also included a list of demands that would punish Ukraine so bad it would be the equivalent of a surrender.
The U.S. delegation meeting with the Russians on Monday is led by Andrew Peek, senior director at the White House National Security Council, and Michael Anton, director of policy planning staff at the State Department.
The Russians are represented by Grigory Karasin, the leader of the Russian upper house of parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sergei Beseda, an adviser to the director of Russia’s Federal Security Service.
