Ukraine says parties in Saudi Arabia agree on energy infrastructure strikes ban

KIEV -- Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Tuesday that Ukraine and US held talks in Saudi Arabia, and "all parties" agreed the need to impose a ban on targeting energy infrastructure in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"All parties agreed to develop measures for implementing the Presidents' agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Ukraine and Russia," Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, wrote on Facebook.

Additionally, the parties agreed to ensure safe navigation and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea, Umerov said.

He emphasized that the participants of the talks welcomed the possible involvement of third countries to support the implementation of energy and maritime agreements.

According to the minister, the US reaffirmed its support for efforts to facilitate the exchange of captives between Ukraine and Russia, and the return of Ukrainian children from Russia.

The parties also agreed to continue working towards achieving a durable and lasting peace, Umerov added.

Ukraine and Russia held separate talks with US in Riyadh on March 23-25.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US believes the implementation of the partial ceasefire agreement could begin immediately after the publication of the Ukrainian-American and American-Russian statements following the talks, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.

Zelensky added that Ukraine and the US have also agreed to hold next rounds of negotiations in the near future.