U.S. and Ukraine hold talks 1 day ahead of U.S.-Russia talks

In Saudi Arabia this past Sunday.

Officials from Ukraine and the U.S. sat down for talks one day ahead of separate ceasefire negotiations between Washington and Kyiv as well as Washington and Moscow scheduled for this Monday.

Lee Seung-jae reports.

A day before the U.S. plans to hold separate meetings with Ukrainian and Russian delegates on Monday, Washington's technical team held talks with Ukrainian officials on Sunday in Riyadh.

As part of Washington's shuttle diplomacy in Saudi Arabia, U.S. and Ukrainian officials were set to hold talks on Monday, followed by a separate meeting between U.S. and Russian delegates on the same day.

However, it was later confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Washington and Kyiv would hold talks a day ahead of its meeting set for Monday.

Following Sunday's meeting, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said talks with U.S. officials were "productive and focused," adding that the two sides addressed key points including energy.

The defense chief said that Ukraine was working to make its goal of a "just and lasting peace" become a "reality."

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff expressed confidence that progress would be made with Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Witkoff said he expects Ukraine and Russia to make progress on a ceasefire in the Black Sea after holding talks on Monday, which will "naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire."

The special envoy also said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the war, stressing that "he wants peace."

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.