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Live Blog
- Annabel Bate, Foreign News Reporter
- Updated: 9:49, 24 Mar 2025
A FRESH round of tense, Trump-backed Ukraine-Russia peace talks are to begin today in Saudi Arabia.
The US team are looking to get a ceasefire in the Black Sea to allow free flow of shipping, as well as a pause on fighting in war-torn Ukraine.
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At the Ritz Carlton hotel in Riyadh, US-Russian talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine have already begun.
It comes after US officials held meetings with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia's capital on Sunday.
Despite Ukrainian and Russian representatives being at the same compound, they won't directly interact with one another, with all talks going through the US.
It's thought that Ukraine's lost children snatched by the Kremlin may also be brought up in talks.
On Sunday, Ukrainian and US delegations discussed proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure, Ukraine's defence minister confirmed.
This is part of a gargantuan diplomatic push by President Trump to desperately end three years of war.
The Republican's special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism on the chances for ending the bloody conflict.
He told Fox News on Sunday: "I feel that [Putin] wants peace.
"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."
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China slams reports it's considering sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine
The Chinese foreign ministry has been quick to deny reports it is discussing sending peacekeeping troops to post-war Ukraine.
Spokesman for the ministry Guo Jiakun said: "I’d like to emphasise that corresponding reports are absolutely false. China’s position on the Ukrainian crisis is consistent and clear."
He added that Beijing looks to "to continue working with the international community toward peace talks and creating conditions for a ceasefire and ending the conflict."
Ukraine decimates military helicopters in Russia border region
Ukraine has destroyed four military helicopters in Russia's Belgorod region, the country's special operation forces revealed.
In a post on Telegram, the SSO said it used missiles to destroy two Ka-52 strike helicopters and two Mi-8 transport helicopters.
The unit said in a statement: "Once again, [Russia] thought deep rear positions were unattainable.
"We proved that nothing is out of reach for Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces."
US has 'common understanding' with Russia on need for peace in Ukraine, says Kremlin
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said there is a "common understanding" between the US and Russia on needing a "peaceful settlement in Ukraine".
He added that Russia is continuing to monitor the situation of Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure after reports emerged of an attempted attack on an oil station in the Krasnodar region.
One key topic in today's talks is Trump wanting a revival of the Black Sea grain deal, which Putin consented to.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir PutinCredit: Reuters
'Putin isn't planning to invade all of Europe,' says Trump envoy
US President Trump's envoy has said he doesn't see mad Vladimir Putin wanting to invade beyond Ukraine, adding that he thinks fears of further Russian aggression is an "academic issue".
Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Sunday: "I just don’t see that he wants to take all of Europe.
"I take him at his word in this sense, so, and I think the Europeans are beginning to come to that belief, too.
"But it sort of doesn’t matter. That’s an academic issue. The agenda is, stop the killing, stop the carnage. Let’s end this thing.”
'Multi-level' cyber attack on Ukrainian rail service
Ukraine's state-owned railway company has shared that its online systems have been hit by a large-scale cyber attack.
Ukrzaliznytsia said in a Telegram post: "The railway continues to move despite physical attacks on the infrastructure, not stopping it even with the most vile cyber attacks!"
It added that the brutal attack was "very systematic, non-trivial, and multi-level" - but vowed that restoration of online systems is ongoing.
Trump envoy attacks Starmer while talks of 'friendship' with Putin
President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has slammed British Prime Minister Sit Keir Starmer's Ukraine plan as being all "posture and pose".
He accused him of adopting the "simplistic" idea that leaders "have all got to be like Winston Churchill".
Witkoff also talked of his developing "friendship" with mad Vladimir Putin.
The special envoy is leading the US delegation in ongoing peace talks with Moscow and Kyiv.
Steve Witkoff, White House special envoy, speaks during a television interview outside the White HouseCredit: AP
Kyiv hit by third night of brutal strikes
Kyiv was targeted by mad Vladimir Putin's forces overnight following a weekend of deadly strikes.
The city and its surrounding area were under air raid alerts for hours, beginning late last night, according to Ukraine air force maps.
One person was wounded and homes in the region were damaged in the latest brutal attack.
Firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack near Kyiv, Ukraine, on MondayCredit: AP
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