FACT CHECK: Did US and Ukrainian Officials Hold ‘Productive’ Ceasefire Talks in Riyadh?

Claim:

A viral claim suggests that Ukrainian and US officials held ‘productive’ ceasefire talks in Riyadh, just a day before the US delegation was set to meet with Russia’s representatives.

Fact:

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that discussions between US and Ukrainian officials in Riyadh were “productive and focused,” with energy security being a key topic. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Umerov, included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the President’s Office. However, they did not meet with Russian representatives.

Evidence:

• The talks follow a previous meeting in Jeddah, where Kyiv reportedly agreed to a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in exchange for resumed military aid and intelligence sharing.
• The meeting took place ahead of scheduled US-Russia talks, with the Kremlin’s delegation led by top Russian security officials.
• US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, leading the American delegation, downplayed concerns that Putin seeks to expand beyond Ukraine, while President Donald Trump stated that efforts to de-escalate the conflict were “somewhat under control.”

Verdict:

True. Ukrainian and US officials did hold ceasefire talks in Riyadh, discussing key issues including energy security, but there was no direct engagement with Russia at this stage.