Ukrainian delegation calls Riyadh talks success, pressure mounts on Russia

Talks between Ukrainian and US officials in Riyadh on March 23 were described as “productive and focused,” with key issues such as energy security at the forefront, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said.

In a post on social media platform X, Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s goal is to “secure a just and lasting peace” for Ukraine and Europe. He added, “We are working to make that goal a reality,” Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

We have concluded our meeting with the American team.
The discussion was productive and focused — we addressed key points including energy.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s goal is to secure a just and lasting peace for our country and our people — and, by extension, for all of…

— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) March 23, 2025

The Ukrainian delegation also included State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleksandr Karasevych, deputy heads of the President's Office – Pavlo Palisa and Ihor Zhovkva – as well as Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk. Palisa confirmed that the Ukrainian delegation would not be meeting with Russia's representatives in Riyadh.

In a video address, President Zelenskyy called the talks “very productive” and urged continued international pressure on Russia for a “genuine” ceasefire. The Riyadh talks come nearly two weeks after a similar meeting in Jeddah, where Kyiv agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in exchange for resumed US military aid and intelligence sharing.

The meeting in Riyadh is a prelude to the upcoming talks between US and Russian delegations, scheduled for March 24. The Russian delegation includes Grigory Karasin, chairman of the international affairs committee in Russia's upper house, and Sergey Beseda, adviser to the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service.

While the talks in Riyadh were underway, President Zelenskyy had accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stalling ceasefire efforts and continuing as an “aggressor.” Despite agreeing in principle to a limited ceasefire, Russia’s attacks on Ukraine have intensified.

On March 21, EU leaders at the Brussels summit reaffirmed the need for a stronger European defence by 2030. Meanwhile, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff expressed skepticism about Russia's territorial ambitions, stating, “I just don't see that he wants to take all of Europe.”

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, indicated that the escalation between Russia and Ukraine was “somewhat under control” and expressed hope that the Riyadh talks could be a breakthrough in ending the conflict.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided an update on the ongoing negotiations between Ukrainian and US delegations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a video message shared via his official Telegram channel, Zelenskyy described the talks as focused on technical matters, with the participation of military officials, diplomats, and representatives from Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy.

“This is the second meeting of the Ukrainian and American teams in Saudi Arabia,” Zelenskyy said. “This time, the discussions are at a more technical level, with our military, diplomats, and energy specialists involved.”

The Ukrainian president also revealed that he had been briefed by Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov on the progress of the talks. “He reported to me about the meeting and the progress of negotiations. Our team is working absolutely constructively, and the conversation is quite useful. The work of the delegations continues,” Zelenskyy added.

The talks, which are part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its security and infrastructure, are expected to focus on critical issues such as energy security and military cooperation. Zelenskyy’s comments suggest that the dialogue is moving forward in a positive direction, with both sides engaging constructively to address key concerns.

By Vafa Guliyeva