WEBDESK: U.S. and Ukrainian officials have gathered to work toward a partial ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine in a meeting in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia on Sunday. The discussions focused on stopping the violence and finding ways to protect critical infrastructure and energy facilities. The meeting has brought new hope for ending some of the fighting, especially along the Black Sea.
A key moment in the talks was the clear message from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. During a recent interview, he stressed that he believes “Putin is not planning to invade Europe.” This statement aims to ease fears among European nations that Russia might expand its military actions beyond Ukraine. In his view, the current focus is on stopping the war rather than launching a broader attack.
US President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes talks in Riyadh, which will see US officials hold separate technical-level discussions with delegations from Ukraine and Russia could pave the way to a breakthrough.
Despite both sides proposing different plans for temporary ceasefires, attacks have continued unabated.
Originally scheduled to take place simultaneously to enable shuttle diplomacy – with the US going back and forth between the delegations – the talks on a partial truce are now taking place one after the other.
The negotiations also included plans to restart the Black Sea grain initiative. This plan, originally set up in 2022, allowed for safe export of Ukrainian agricultural goods. However, Putin had pulled out of the agreement in 2023 after claiming that Western nations did not meet their promises regarding sanctions. Restarting this initiative is seen as an important step to support Ukraine’s economy while working toward peace.
“I just don’t see that he wants to take all of Europe. I take him at his word in this sense, so, and I think the Europeans are beginning to come to that belief, too. But it sort of doesn’t matter. That’s an academic issue…. The agenda is, stop the killing, stop the carnage. Let’s end this thing,” he said.
Experts say that while progress is still early, the idea that “Putin is not planning to invade Europe” offers a more optimistic outlook. If the ceasefire takes hold, it could mean a reduction in fighting and a move toward a more stable region. With further discussions between U.S. and Russian officials on the agenda, many are watching closely to see if these talks will bring lasting change and whether or not Putin will stay true to his word.
The mediation in Saudi Arabia and the firm statement that “Putin is not planning to invade Europe” have provided a hopeful sign. This message not only calms fears in Europe but also sets the stage for potential diplomatic breakthroughs in resolving the conflict.
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