Russia Refused to Discuss Halting Attacks on Civilians at Riyadh Talks, Says Ukraine Official

During talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Russia refused to discuss a halt to attacks on civilian targets. This was reported by Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the President’s Office, in an interview with Ukrinform on March 27.

Zhovkva confirmed that Ukraine had insisted on stopping attacks on civilian infrastructure, specifically schools, hospitals, residential buildings, and kindergartens. However, during the meeting between Russian and American delegations in Riyadh, Russian representatives stated they did not have a mandate to discuss halting attacks on civilian targets.

“As for the energy infrastructure, they posted their list on March 25, their understanding of the objects, which is much smaller and narrower than ours. The American side did not approve this list because, once again, like the statement about alleged ceasefire conditions in the Black Sea, it was issued only in Russian,” said Zhovkva.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that a 30-day ceasefire in the Black Sea and a mutual ban on strikes against energy infrastructure took effect on March 25, following negotiations involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Saudi Arabia.

According to a statement released by the Kremlin on March 25 following negotiations in Riyadh, Russia has agreed to a Black Sea ceasefire under the condition that sanctions are lifted from the Russian Agricultural Bank and domestic producers of food and fertilizers.

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