Moscow comes under 'massive' drone attack
THE DETAILS …
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia have intensified in recent weeks, with multiple stakeholders engaging in high-level talks. A significant focus has been on negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire and laying the groundwork for a broader peace agreement. Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key venue for these discussions, hosting talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, as well as earlier meetings involving U.S. and Russian representatives. These efforts come amidst heightened military activity, including a major Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, underscoring the urgency of finding a diplomatic solution.
On March 10, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah to discuss international efforts to end the crisis. This meeting preceded scheduled talks on March 11 between Ukrainian and U.S. officials, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aimed at advancing a ceasefire framework. Ukraine has proposed a partial truce, focusing on halting aerial and naval attacks, as well as strikes on energy infrastructure, as a confidence-building measure. However, Russia has rejected temporary truces, viewing them as opportunities for Ukraine to regroup, and instead insists on broader concessions, including territorial ones. The U.S. has expressed hope that these talks will clarify Ukraine's willingness to make "realistic" concessions, while also exploring a potential minerals deal to secure economic ties, though details remain unresolved.
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Parallel to these efforts, U.S. President Donald Trump has engaged directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with reports of a planned meeting in Saudi Arabia to further negotiations. The U.S. has paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move seen as pressure on Kyiv to negotiate, while European leaders, including those from France and the UK, have proposed their own truce initiatives and are bolstering military support for Ukraine to fill potential gaps. Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain, including Russia's opposition to European troop deployments in Ukraine post-ceasefire and ongoing tensions between Zelensky and the White House, particularly following a contentious Oval Office meeting in February. These diplomatic moves reflect a complex interplay of pressure, pragmatism, and competing interests as all sides navigate the path to a potential resolution.