A series of Russian drone attacks claimed the lives of at least six individuals in Ukraine over the weekend, heightening tensions as diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire commence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A United States delegation, led by real estate magnate turned diplomat Steve Witkoff, has initiated critical discussions with Kremlin negotiators at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The discussions are meant to fill the ever-growing gap between Russia, Ukraine and their American peers.
The Russian delegation includes heavy hitters like veteran Kremlin diplomat Grigory Karasin and former spy chief Sergey Beseda. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is calling for a ceasefire in behind-the-scenes negotiations with both Russia and Ukraine. The road to peace is riddled with obstacles, not least of which is the mixed expectations and agendas that dominate the talks.
Per Russia’s TASS state news agency, negotiations started Monday morning, but details are still scant. Moscow alleges that Ukraine has targeted gas and oil facilities in Kursk and Krasnodar, despite Russia's offer to cease its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. This charge is emblematic of the minefield negotiators will continue to have to navigate as they work towards a deal.
To make the situation even worse, recent comments by Witkoff have sent alarm bells ringing. His rhetorical support for some of Putin’s territorial ambitions – most notably, wanting to return Crimea – has gone over like a lead balloon in Kyiv. Witkoff referred to the four areas that Russia is planning on annexing—Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk—as “Russian speaking.” Beyond foreign policy concerns, this statement would be disastrous for US-Ukraine relations.
Peace talks Moscow has long insisted that any ceasefire deal must have detailed guarantees from Kyiv. They seek guarantees that Kyiv will not use the respite to rearm or reconstitute its forces. The call comes on the heels of controversial referendums conducted by Russia in September 2022 in Russian occupied regions across the four oblasts. These referendums were even US and European allies condemned as illegitimate.
