Ukraine, Russia to hold talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia next week

I believe we're going to pretty soon have a full ceasefire,

Trump told reporters at the White House

I believe we will soon reach a ceasefire agreement in many areas. Everything has gone very well so far. A complete ceasefire is coming soon, followed by a formal agreement,

he said

We need to agree on the main thing: what objects and what control. The Americans have enormous intelligence capabilities, so they see a lot,

the source added

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

Everyone can see how much we can trust the word of Zelensky and the word of other representatives of the Kyiv regime,

Peskov said

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

They are experienced negotiators with a wealth of experience in this kind of work,

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

We still want to agree on a ceasefire, at least on what we have proposed,

a Ukrainian source told AFP, referring to calls for a halt to strikes on energy sites, civilian infrastructure and attacks in the Black Sea

There have been no reciprocal steps from the Russians,

the source added

It's their choice. But we're preparing for the talks in Saudi Arabia as a bilateral Ukrainian-American event,

he added

The discussions will focus on the details and implementation of decisions made at the political level… That is, professionals from the Ukrainian and American sides should meet to clarify all the details and how everything should look. We need to understand how it will work, who will oversee it, how it will be monitored,

he said

You basically say, 'Okay, what are your terms?' And you go to the other side, 'What are your terms?'

Kellogg said

Volodymyr Zelenskyypresident

By now, there could have been over a week without killings, without strikes, without fire – if Putin were not the only one keeping this war going

Zelensky said

There is absolutely no self-interest from the US side in lifting sanctions on Russian military."

Shkurenko

This is the exact wrong time to take the foot off the gas,

Benjamin Hilgenstock, KSE senior economist and one of the report's coauthors, told Newsweek

António Costaeuropean Council President

We will continue to support Ukraine now, in future negotiations and, especially, in peacetime."

Prior to the summit, António Costa, the president of the European Council, said

It was pointed out that a complete cessation of providing Kyiv with foreign military aid and intelligence must become the key condition for preventing an escalation of the conflict and making progress towards its resolution through political and diplomatic means,

the Kremlin said in its readout of the phone call

Volodymyr Zelenskyypresident

It's unfortunate to say this, but some pressure is also needed within Europe itself to ensure that anything promised – actually happens,

Zelensky said on Thursday

The European Union maintains its 'peace through strength' approach, which requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with its own robust military and defense capabilities as an essential component,

the text reads

European efforts that should be bringing more security and peace are also constantly being obstructed. And I believe this is wrong,

he added

Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding order,

a Kremlin readout said

Kaja Kallastop diplomat

The stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are behind the negotiation table,

the European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said of the Ukrainians, according to Reuters