A Moscow delegation is due to hold its own separate discussions with the Americans on 24 March.
US and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia have concluded "productive and focused" talks on de-escalating the war with Russia. A Moscow delegation is due to hold its own separate discussions with the Americans on 24 March.
U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a quick end to the three-year-old war and hopes the Riyadh talks will pave the way for a breakthrough, but the Kremlin has warned that "difficult negotiations" lie ahead.
Although the two warring sides are offering different plans for a temporary ceasefire, the attacks continue unabated, AFP reported.
They were originally planned to take place simultaneously to allow for shuttle diplomacy - with the US going back and forth between the delegations. But the technical-level talks on a partial ceasefire are now being held separately, one after the other.
The meeting between the Ukrainian team, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and the Americans ended late on the evening of March 23.
"The discussion was productive and focused - we addressed key issues, including energy," Umerov wrote on social media. He added that Ukraine is working to make its goal of a "just and lasting peace" a reality.
Earlier, Umerov explained that the agenda would include proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure.
In his evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out that "Russia is the only one dragging this war out."
"Regardless of what we talk about with our partners, we must press Putin to give a real order to stop the strikes: whoever caused this war must stop it," he said.
Discussions between the US and Russia are scheduled for March 24. Russian state media reported that Moscow's delegation arrived in Riyadh on March 23.
Trump envoy Steve Whitkoff expressed optimism that any agreement reached would pave the way for a "complete" ceasefire.
"I think on Monday (March 24) in Saudi Arabia you'll see some real progress, particularly as it relates to the ceasefire on ships in the Black Sea between the two countries. And from that it will naturally lead to a full ceasefire," he told Fox News.
But the Kremlin downplayed expectations of a quick resolution, claiming the talks were only just beginning.
"We are only at the beginning of this path," Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television.
He said there were many unresolved questions about how a potential ceasefire could be implemented.
Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a joint U.S.-Ukrainian call for a full and immediate 30-day pause. Instead, he proposed a halt to attacks on energy facilities only.
"Difficult negotiations lie ahead," Peskov said in the interview posted on social media. | BGNES