Russia seeks progress at Saudi talks as US mediates Ukraine conflict

Russia is aiming for "some progress" in peace talks set for Monday in Saudi Arabia, a Russian negotiator told state media, as U.S. officials prepare to meet with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in a bid to bring an end to the three-year conflict.

Moscow has rejected a joint US-Ukraine proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, instead suggesting a halt to aerial strikes on energy facilities. However, both sides have continued launching aerial attacks ahead of the negotiations.

On Friday, a Russian strike in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia killed a family of three, sparking outrage among Ukrainian officials. Russia also launched drone attacks on Kyiv, hitting apartment buildings and causing fires that killed at least two people, according to Ukraine's emergency service.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed Sunday that a "massive attack by enemy UAVs" caused debris to fall in several parts of the city, injuring seven people.

US negotiators are set to engage in "shuttle diplomacy" in Saudi Arabia, with meetings scheduled for Monday. Keith Kellogg, the US envoy, described the process as moving between hotel rooms for talks. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, a breakthrough has yet to be achieved.

Grigory Karasin, the head of Russia's delegation, expressed hope for progress in the talks but did not specify on which issue. "We hope to achieve at least some progress," Karasin said, adding that he and fellow negotiator Sergey Beseda would adopt a "combative and constructive" approach.

Ukraine's defense minister is also expected to attend the talks, with Kyiv hoping to secure at least a partial ceasefire, covering energy, infrastructure, and maritime targets.

The selection of Russia's negotiators has raised questions. Karasin is a senior diplomat now serving in Russia's upper house of parliament, while Beseda is a long-time FSB officer, raising concerns about Russia's true commitment to peace talks.

Ukraine has accused Russia of continuing attacks despite claims from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said Tuesday that he had ordered his military to stop targeting Ukrainian energy sites.

Meanwhile, a senior US official close to President Donald Trump has praised Putin, calling him a "great" leader seeking to end the conflict. "I don’t regard Putin as a bad guy," White House envoy Steve Witkoff said in an interview aired Friday.

In the latest Russian assault, Ukraine’s air force reported firing 179 drones at the country overnight. In Zaporizhzhia, a family, including a 14-year-old girl, was killed when a drone hit their house. In Donetsk, Russian strikes on Saturday killed two and wounded three.

Ukraine also retaliated with drone strikes on Russian territory, wounding two people in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited troops defending the eastern city of Pokrovsk, which Russia has been attempting to encircle and capture for months.