**No U.S.-Russia Meeting Planned**
The Russian Foreign Ministry says there will be no meeting between the U.S. and Russia this week. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova told TASS, a Russian state news agency, that they have not received any information about such a meeting.
This comes as CNN reported that the U.S. might hold separate meetings with Ukrainian and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week. However, The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
**Ukrainian Delegation to Meet U.S. Officials**
The Ukrainian delegation will meet U.S. officials in Jeddah on March 11 to discuss a potential peace agreement with Russia and negotiations on a critical minerals deal. This meeting follows previous rounds of U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh and Istanbul.
The U.S. is expected to assess Ukraine’s willingness to mend ties with Washington after a contentious Oval Office exchange between President Trump and President Zelensky last month.
**Ukraine Seeks to Restore Military Aid**
Ukraine will reportedly push for the restoration of U.S. military aid, which was suspended following the Oval Office exchange. The country also wants to propose a partial ceasefire covering long-range drone and missile strikes, as well as hostilities in the Black Sea.
President Zelensky has repeatedly stressed that security guarantees, including long-term U.S. support, must accompany any ceasefire agreement.
**Increased Tensions**
The situation remains tense, with Russia launching over 130 drones overnight, including Shahed-type attack drones. Ukraine’s Air Force intercepted most of them.
The conflict has also led to significant casualties on both sides, with Russian forces suffering 1,190 casualties in just one day.
**Global Reaction**
U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed frustration that the war is not being resolved quickly enough. A U.S. official suggested that Russia’s demands for pre-2014 borders indicate its true intentions.
Meanwhile, billionaire Elon Musk reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Ukraine with Starlink technology.
