Russia refused to discuss stopping attacks on civilian targets at talks in Saudi Arabia — President's Office
At talks in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Russia refused to discuss a halt to strikes on civilian targets, said Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva in an interview with Ukrinform.
During the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine insisted on stopping strikes on civilian objects, namely schools, hospitals, residential buildings, and kindergartens.
However, during a meeting between Russian and American delegations in Riyadh, Kremlin representatives stated that they "do not have a mandate" to discuss stopping attacks on civilian targets.
"As for energy infrastructure, on March 25 they posted their list, their understanding of the objects, which is much smaller and narrower than ours. The American side did not agree with this list, because, again, like the statement about some alleged conditions for a truce on the Black Sea, it was published only in Russian," Zhovkva said.
What is known about the negotiations?
The negotiations are taking place using the “shuttle diplomacy” method — Ukraine and Russia are not in contact directly, but through the United States as an intermediary. On March 23, the Ukrainian “technical” group held talks with the US delegation, on March 24, negotiations between the Americans and the Russian delegation continued, and on the 25th, US consultations with Ukraine resumed.
The sides are trying to agree on a partial 30-day ceasefire. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for "pressure" on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to give a real order to stop the strikes, because after the ceasefire proposal, the aggressor state continue to strike at Ukraine.
The negotiating team from Ukraine included the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, as well as the deputy head of the President’s Office Pavlo Palisa. However, energy and military experts also joined the meeting on March 23.