Kiev [Ukraine], March 24: Representatives from Kiev and Washington met in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday to begin the latest round of negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.
"We are implementing the President of Ukraine's directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security," Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov wrote on X.
Umerov said the talks with US representatives were to focus on measures to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure, and that the Ukrainian delegation included energy experts as well as military representatives from the naval and air divisions.
In Saudi Arabia, US mediators plan to negotiate separately with representatives from both Moscow and Kiev starting on Monday. US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg spoke of a "shuttle diplomacy," through which the US delegation hopes to achieve a rapprochement between the two warring parties' positions.
Both Ukraine and Russia have already agreed in principle to an initial break in attacks on energy facilities, though it is not yet clear how this should be implemented. Both sides have since carried out large-scale drone attacks. In the ceasefire talks, Kiev is also seeking to protect other types of infrastructure.
Meanwhile, three people have been killed and 10 injured in Russian drone attacks on Kiev, authorities said on Sunday.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko and military administrator Teymur Tkachenko reported numerous explosions on Telegram overnight, causing fires on the upper floors of several high-rise buildings.
Air sirens sounded in the Ukrainian capital for more than five hours amid the attacks.
Tkachenko said that a five-year-old child was among the dead, while an 11-month-old baby was injured.
Moscow promised a break in attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure this week following talks with US President Donald Trump.
The Russian military has since stepped up its attacks on civilian targets in Ukrainian cities. Late on Saturday, the Russian military launched several drone swarms against targets in Ukraine, including the eastern city of Kharkiv.
Airstrikes were also carried out with guided glide bombs.
The industrial city of Zaporizhzhya in south-eastern Ukraine was hit by at least four bombs, military administrator Ivan Fedorov said.
This caused a fire, and several villages lost power, he said, without providing further details or information. "The shock wave and debris also damaged several private homes," he continued.
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's full-scale invasion for more than three years.
Source: Qatar Tribune