Talks between high-level delegations from the United States and Ukraine regarding a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine began on the 23rd (local time).
Rustem Umierov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, said through social media that they started discussions with the U.S. team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and added that the agenda includes ceasefire measures to protect energy and critical infrastructure.
Minister Umierov noted, "Efforts are underway to resolve several complex technical issues," adding that the delegation includes energy experts and military personnel specializing in maritime and aviation.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump successfully obtained agreement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone call on the 19th, following an agreement on a "partial ceasefire proposal" with Russian President Vladimir Putin through a phone conversation on the 18th.
This proposal states that Russia and Ukraine will suspend attacks on energy and infrastructure for 30 days. A working-level meeting between high-level delegations from the U.S. and Russia will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the 24th regarding this issue. It appears that the U.S.-Ukraine talks, which were originally scheduled to be held the same day and place following the U.S.-Russia talks, have been advanced by one day. The U.S. is reportedly aiming to finalize a ceasefire agreement by the 20th of next month.
While the U.S. is urging Russia and Ukraine to expedite ceasefire mediation, the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.
Ukrainian authorities announced on the 23rd (local time) via social media that apartments and commercial buildings across the capital, Kyiv, were damaged by Russian drone strikes. According to authorities, at least three people, including a 5-year-old child, have died, and over ten have been injured in this attack in Kyiv and its outskirts.
The Ukrainian Air Force announced, "We intercepted 97 drones launched by Russia overnight, and 25 of these were prevented from reaching their targets using electronic warfare equipment."
On the other hand, Russia claims that a transformer station in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, occupied by Ukraine, was cut off from power supply due to an attack by Ukrainian forces. According to the state-run Sputnik news agency, an official from the military administration in the area stated, "The transformer station has suffered serious damage from Ukrainian shelling, leaving over 11,000 people without power."