What are the issues in US talks with Ukraine and Russia?

U.S. and Russian officials began negotiations in SaudiArabia on Monday, aiming to make progress toward a Ukraine ceasefire, with Washington pushing for a separate Black Sea maritime deal before broader agreements.

The talks follow discussions between the U.S. and Ukraine a day earlier and come as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to end the war. Last week, Trump spoke with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Energy ceasefire in doubt

The White House announced that Trump and Putin agreed to a 30-day pause in attacks on Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure to start the peace process.

However, the ceasefire is already under strain, with Russia accusing Ukraine of hitting an oil depot, while Kyiv reported fresh Russian strikes on hospitals and homes.

Zelensky has said Ukraine will propose a list of infrastructure facilities for protection, which could extend beyond energy to include rail and port hubs.

Some experts warn such a moratorium could benefit Russia more than Ukraine by restricting Kyiv’s long-range strikes on Russian oil facilities.

Black Sea shipping talks

The Kremlin said Putin responded "constructively" to Trump’s initiative on protecting Black Sea shipping, a critical issue since Russia withdrew from a U.N.-brokered grain deal last year.

Although Russia and Ukraine have continued grain exports despite shipping risks, the U.S. aims to restore safe passage agreements.

Nuclear plants and U.S. involvement

Trump proposed U.S. involvement in running and possibly owning Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, including the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility.

While Ukraine supports modernization efforts, experts estimate it would take over two years and significant investment to restore entire operations.

NATO Membership remains a sticking point

Putin insists Ukraine must abandon its NATO membership ambitions, while Kyiv maintains that joining the alliance is its best security guarantee.

Recent mixed signals from Washington have added uncertainty. While Trump's deputy envoy to Ukraine suggested NATO membership remains on the table, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it “unrealistic,” fueling concerns that the U.S. may make concessions before negotiations advance.

Ukraine's long-term security

With NATO membership uncertain, Ukraine is seeking alternative security guarantees. Britain and France have proposed a deterrent force of foreign troops, ships, and aircraft stationed near Ukraine post-war, but Russia opposes such a move.

Russian territorial demands

Moscow reportedly wants U.S. recognition of four Ukrainian regions—Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—along with Crimea as Russian territory. Ukraine, however, insists it will never recognize Russian sovereignty over its land and hopes to reclaim occupied areas through diplomatic efforts over time.

Putin is seeking sanctions relief and a Ukrainian presidential election, which Kyiv has not held since 2019 due to martial law. Ukrainian officials insist Moscow has no right to dictate their political timeline.

While the Trump administration is exploring ways to ease some sanctions if Moscow ends the war, Trump has also floated imposing additional banking restrictions and tariffs on Russia as leverage.

U.S. interest in Ukraine's natural resources

Ukraine and the U.S. are negotiating a deal for U.S. investment in Ukrainian natural resources, particularly rare earth minerals used in electronics manufacturing. Talks stalled after a tense meeting between Trump and Zelensky last month, but Trump has since indicated a deal is imminent.

Beyond minerals, Ukraine’s large underground gas storage capacity could be of interest to Washington. Kyiv could import U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG), store it, and resell it to European nations seeking alternatives to Russian energy.

Prisoner exchange continue

Amid negotiations, Russia and Ukraine completed one of their largest prisoner exchanges, swapping 175 captives each and releasing an additional 22 severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

With multiple sensitive issues on the table, the outcome of the Saudi Arabia talks remains uncertain. While the U.S. is pushing for incremental progress—starting with the Black Sea—questions linger over Ukraine’s future security, territorial integrity, and long-term peace prospects.