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U.S. says technical talks in Saudi Arabia aim to broaden partial energy ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine war
Summary
The State Department spokesperson said technical teams — not principals — will meet in Saudi Arabia in coming days to negotiate implementation and possible expansion of a partial ceasefire covering energy and related infrastructure; the U.S. linked the talks to President Trumps conversations with Russia and Ukraine.
The State Department said technical teams from the parties to the Russia-Ukraine conflict will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to negotiate implementation of a partial ceasefire covering energy and related infrastructure.
State Department spokesperson Tammy told reporters the talks "will not be principals going to those negotiations" but "senior staff" focused on technical frameworks. She said the meetings were arranged following conversations between President Donald J. Trump and both President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and that the talks could lead to a broader maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea on the way to a full ceasefire.
Why it matters: The department framed the Saudi Arabia meetings as a first step to reduce fighting around energy and infrastructure and to create a "potential of a de-escalation" that could enable wider negotiations. Tammy said the U.S. and Ukrainian teams agreed to share battlefield information and that President Zelenskyy requested additional air-defense systems, including Patriot batteries; President Trump "agreed to work with him to find what was available, particularly in Europe."
Supporting details: Tammy said the presidents agreed the technical teams should discuss how a partial energy ceasefire could be broadened to the Black Sea and ultimately toward a full ceasefire. She described the move as a diplomatic acceleration, saying, "this is happening quickly" and that participants could produce results "very soon." The spokesperson said questions about the precise technical scope (for example, whether the ceasefire covers the electrical grid, power plants, or other energy infrastructure) would be answered by the technical teams in the coming days.
Tammy also read a statement recounting the leaders' discussions and reiterated that the U.S. is pushing for a ceasefire as a prerequisite to negotiations: "We cannot get to the table for negotiations to end the war without a ceasefire in place. The shooting has to stop first." She said advisers named in the briefing (Secretary Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Special Envoy Witkoff and Special Envoy Kellogg) were involved in preparing the teams.
On energy infrastructure ownership: Tammy repeated a statement attributed to President Trump that "American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure," and described the idea as creating economic ties that could deter attacks; she did not provide details on legal mechanisms, which entity would own assets, or how any transfer would be negotiated. Tammy said such structural questions would be worked out by experts after a ceasefire is in place.
What was not decided: The spokesperson repeatedly stressed that technical teams will clarify specifics; she declined to provide a detailed format for the meetings (bilateral, trilateral, or otherwise) and said it was still being arranged.
Ending: The State Department framed the Saudi Arabia sessions as imminent and narrow technical negotiations intended to implement a partial energy ceasefire, with the explicit aim of enabling a broader cessation of hostilities. Further details about scope, participants and the mechanics for U.S. involvement with Ukrainian infrastructure remain to be determined by the technical teams.
