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President Trump says the US is having “deep discussions” with both Russia and Ukraine.
President Donald Trump believes recent negotiations between Washington, Moscow, and Kiev represent a significant step towards resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Following discussions in Saudi Arabia, both Ukraine and Russia have shown a willingness to adhere to President Trump’s proposed agreement. This agreement includes a mutual halt to attacks on energy facilities and the revival of the Black Sea Initiative, which aims to prevent the use of force and ensure commercial ships aren’t used for military purposes.
“We’ve made a lot of progress on two fronts,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. He clarified that he was referring to “Russia, Ukraine, and also the Middle East.”
“We’ll see what happens. We’re in deep discussions with Russia and Ukraine, and I would say it’s going well,” the US president stated.
Trump didn’t provide further details about the talks in Riyadh but mentioned that his administration is considering easing some sanctions against Moscow to help advance the Black Sea Initiative. In response, Ukraine’s President Zelensky criticized Washington, accusing it of “weakening” its position and sanctions pressure.
Earlier that day, the Kremlin issued a comprehensive list of Ukrainian energy infrastructure to be protected under the 30-day US-brokered ceasefire. This includes facilities for oil and gas processing and storage, pumping stations, pipelines, electricity production and distribution infrastructure, nuclear power plants, and hydroelectric dams.
Trump initially proposed the cessation of strikes during a recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin agreed and immediately directed the military to stop attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. According to the Russian military, they intercepted and destroyed seven kamikaze drones headed for targets in Ukraine.
While Zelensky publicly supported the ceasefire, Moscow claims that Kiev violated it almost immediately, with Ukrainian drones reportedly targeting multiple energy facilities in Russia over the past week. An international oil consortium – including US companies Chevron and ExxonMobil – also acknowledged the attacks on its crucial energy infrastructure in Russia’s Krasnodar Region.
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