US envoy hopeful of ending Ukraine war as talks begin

Ukrainian and US officials began talks on Sunday on proposals to safeguard energy facilities and critical infrastructure, Ukraine's defence minister said, part of a diplomatic push by US President Donald Trump to end three years of war.

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The meeting in Saudi Arabia, which precedes talks on Monday between the US and Russian delegations, came as US special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about the chances for ending Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two.

“I feel that (Russian President Vladimir Putin) wants peace,” Witkoff told Fox News on Sunday.

“I think that you're going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that, you'll naturally gravitate into a full-on shooting ceasefire.”

Separately, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said on Sunday the United States was talking through a range of confidence-building measures aimed at ending the war, including on the future of Ukrainian children taken into Russia.

Announcing the start of the Riyadh talks, Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who is heading his country’s delegation, said on Facebook: “We are implementing the President of Ukraine's directive to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security.”