Media: Trump's team rejects talks on restoring Ukraine's pre-2014, pre-2022 borders

In a recent article, Sky News highlights that the team of US President Donald Trump is unwilling to entertain any discussions about Ukraine to revert its borders to pre-2014 or pre-2022 positions - before Russia's annexation of Crimea and its full-scale invasion.

This morning, the correspondents in Moscow and Jeddah have provided insights into the latest developments surrounding the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. 

Ivor Bennett, reporting from Moscow, details the aftermath of Ukraine's overnight drone strike, which has caused considerable damage and disruption in the Russian capital.

"It feels like Ukraine was trying to send a message here, a message to Russia and a message to the US saying that it's not just Russia that holds all the cards," Bennett observes.

He adds that Kyiv is likely aiming to show it can still "cause problems" for Russia, signaling that any peace negotiations or potential concessions should involve Moscow making some sacrifices as well. 

Meanwhile, in Jeddah, international correspondent Alex Rossi updates from the location where Ukrainian and US delegations met on March 11 to discuss a potential resolution to the war.

Rossi mentions that the US will be watching closely for any concessions from Ukraine in the discussions. "It looks like the Ukrainians are going to have to make some fairly painful concessions, but the hope is when these talks finish, we will see and understand what the shape of a ceasefire," Rossi states. 

On March 11, Ukraine carried out its largest drone assault on Moscow to date, resulting in the deaths of at least two workers at a meat warehouse, injuring 18 others, and causing a temporary closure of four airports in the Russian capital, according to Russian officials. 

A total of 337 drones were intercepted across Russia, with 91 shot down in the Moscow region and 126 in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been retreating.

The early morning assault coincided with US officials meeting with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the three-year conflict, while Russian forces attempted to encircle thousands of Ukrainian troops in the western Russian region of Kursk. 

By Naila Huseynova