Frank Gardner

We don't yet know exactly what their demands are because almost nothing is coming out of the Russians at the moment. The Ukrainians have been talking. They would love to do a press conference. We may still get some kind of a statement. And then, of course, we've got to read between the lines. If it says frank discussions, it means they argued.

We don't yet know exactly what their demands are because almost nothing is coming out of the Russians at the moment. The Ukrainians have been talking. They would love to do a press conference. We may still get some kind of a statement. And then, of course, we've got to read between the lines. If it says frank discussions, it means they argued.

If it says productive, it means just a little bit of progress was probably made.

If it says productive, it means just a little bit of progress was probably made.

Yeah, there is a big gap between how the Americans portray this and how the Russians. Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy to these peace talks, a man who I have to say does not have a very good grasp of the areas. He couldn't even name the five oblasts, the five provinces in Ukraine that Russia has seized.

Yeah, there is a big gap between how the Americans portray this and how the Russians. Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy to these peace talks, a man who I have to say does not have a very good grasp of the areas. He couldn't even name the five oblasts, the five provinces in Ukraine that Russia has seized.

And the narrative that he has been telling people in an interview that he did in the States over the weekend is basically the Kremlin's narrative. And that did worry people. The team that's over here, that's here in Riyadh, say they've had really good discussions with the Americans. They get on well with them. Some of the Ukrainians have been to US universities.

And the narrative that he has been telling people in an interview that he did in the States over the weekend is basically the Kremlin's narrative. And that did worry people. The team that's over here, that's here in Riyadh, say they've had really good discussions with the Americans. They get on well with them. Some of the Ukrainians have been to US universities.

They've spent time working and living in the States. So there is a kind of commonality there. The question, I think, the big question is how much pressure, if any, is the US side going to put on Russia to sign up to even this partial ceasefire? We already know they won't do the full 30-day

They've spent time working and living in the States. So there is a kind of commonality there. The question, I think, the big question is how much pressure, if any, is the US side going to put on Russia to sign up to even this partial ceasefire? We already know they won't do the full 30-day

land, sea and air ceasefire because that was presented to Putin and he said not until lots of other questions are answered. So I think there is a concern in Europe and on the Ukrainian side that the US might be less than an honest broker here, that the Trump administration is more sympathetic to Putin's narrative than it is to Ukraine's.

land, sea and air ceasefire because that was presented to Putin and he said not until lots of other questions are answered. So I think there is a concern in Europe and on the Ukrainian side that the US might be less than an honest broker here, that the Trump administration is more sympathetic to Putin's narrative than it is to Ukraine's.

The glittering opulence of Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton Hotel is the venue today for crucial talks aimed at pausing at least aspects of the war in Ukraine. The Russian delegation is on one floor, the Ukrainians, all 25 of them, are on another. The Americans have been meeting both, trying to live up to the rather optimistic expectations of President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

The glittering opulence of Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton Hotel is the venue today for crucial talks aimed at pausing at least aspects of the war in Ukraine. The Russian delegation is on one floor, the Ukrainians, all 25 of them, are on another. The Americans have been meeting both, trying to live up to the rather optimistic expectations of President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

The Ukrainians say their talks last night were productive. They brought with them technical experts from the energy ministry, as well as diplomats and naval officers to discuss how to safeguard Black Sea shipping lanes.

The Ukrainians say their talks last night were productive. They brought with them technical experts from the energy ministry, as well as diplomats and naval officers to discuss how to safeguard Black Sea shipping lanes.

The Russians are keen to revive a Moroban deal in the Black Sea, which allowed them to export farm produce and fertilizer in exchange for refraining from attacks on Ukrainian shipping.

The Russians are keen to revive a Moroban deal in the Black Sea, which allowed them to export farm produce and fertilizer in exchange for refraining from attacks on Ukrainian shipping.

This vote was being called absolutely crucial, a day of destiny, a historic opportunity by various people, politicians, journalists, others. It needed to pass by two thirds, and it did. It's passed by 71%. This is the lower house. So the parliament, the Bundestag, it's still got to get through the upper house, the Bundesrat, on Friday, but that's thought to be now something of a formality.

This vote was being called absolutely crucial, a day of destiny, a historic opportunity by various people, politicians, journalists, others. It needed to pass by two thirds, and it did. It's passed by 71%. This is the lower house. So the parliament, the Bundestag, it's still got to get through the upper house, the Bundesrat, on Friday, but that's thought to be now something of a formality.