US President Donald Trump is reportedly urging Russia and Ukraine to reach a ceasefire agreement by Easter Sunday, as peace negotiations resumed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to Mail Online, the talks restarted amid intensified Russian airstrikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which resulted in multiple casualties, including the death of a five-year-old child and an 11-month-old baby left injured.
While negotiations are ongoing, Russia appears to be prolonging the process, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warning that discussions will be “difficult.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that his delegation is working through technical issues, focusing on energy security and military concerns, with future talks expected to address safe passage for ships in the Black Sea.
US officials are set to hold separate meetings with both Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Riyadh over the coming days. The discussions will likely include monitoring a 30-day truce on energy facility strikes, an agreement reached last week. Concerns Over US-UK Relations Amid Peace Talks The ceasefire negotiations have also raised concerns among British officials about the future of the “Special Relationship” between the US and UK.
Former Defense Minister Tobias Ellwood claimed that the UK can no longer rely on US support in countering Putin’s aggression. Additionally, Dem defense spokesperson Mike Martin suggested that Britain’s diplomatic efforts to bridge the gap between the US and Europe were now “in tatters.”
The concerns follow controversial remarks from Trump’s peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, who praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and dismissed UK-led efforts to aid Ukraine as merely “a posture and a pose.”
Ellwood criticized Witkoff’s stance, warning that Europe may no longer be able to depend on the US as a reliable security ally. Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois also weighed in, stating: “If the US genuinely wants a ceasefire, they may find that credible threats of additional sanctions on Russia are more effective than compliments.”