U.S. officials are meeting negotiators from Ukraine and from Russia in Saudi Arabia to discuss the details of a proposed 30-day ceasefire on strikes on energy infrastructure, as well as a longer-term peace deal.
The proposal has been accepted by Kyiv's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said he wants to see the war end "as soon as possible".
G7 allies have said Moscow could face further sanctions if it doesn't support the truce.
Department of Government and politics professor at University College Cork (UCC) Andrew Cottey told Newstalk Breakfast that these talks are “certainly significant” - but it’s unsure if they will bring about peace.
“So far, the Russians have taken a pretty hardline approach, they’re saying that any long-term ceasefire has to include – amongst other things – a complete end to military assistance to Ukraine,” he said.
“But if you think about that, in a fairly short time [it] would leave the Ukrainians defenseless.
“So, that’s going to be unacceptable, not just to President Zelenskyy, but to any Ukrainian political leader.
“What we don’t know is whether the Russians are going to moderate that position, and obviously the Americans are trying to lean on both sides to get towards a ceasefire.”
Main image: Russian President at left with US President Donald Trump during the G20 meeting in Japan, 28 June 2019. Photo: White House
