The US and Russia held peace talks in Saudi Arabia about the war in Ukraine today, with European leaders recently holding their own meeting about the issue.

So what’s the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, is it any closer to ending and what do different countries want from a potential peace deal?

FactCheck speaks to experts to find out.

What’s the latest on the Ukraine war?

Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, as local authorities report that at least three civilians were killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine on 16 February.

Ukraine’s state-owned electricity transmission operator Ukrenergo has also said that emergency blackouts are in place in several Ukrainian regions following Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry says it intercepted and destroyed 90 Ukrainian drones on the same night.

Today, peace talks have taken place between US and Russia officials in Saudi Arabia about the ongoing war, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wasn’t invited.

The Ukrainian leader was meant to be heading to the country on Wednesday for a long-planned visit unrelated to the US-Russia talks, which he’s now cancelled, but he told reporters during a visit to the United Arab Emirates that “Ukraine regards any talks about Ukraine without Ukraine as such that have no result; and we cannot recognise… agreements about us without us”.

What does Russia want in the peace deal?

Professor Faten Ghosn, head of the Department of Government at the University of Essex, told FactCheck that the peace talks in Saudi Arabia “are expected to serve as an exploratory step in assessing potential pathways to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict”.

But she added that there are “concerns” that Russia, with the help of the US, “will use the negotiations as a political tool to cement its territorial gains, rather than engaging in meaningful diplomacy, as now the global balance of power has shifted in its favour with President Trump in the White House”.

Kristian Gleditsch, professor of political science at the University of Essex, added: “It is difficult to know exactly what Russia may settle for since it has not made very precise demands, but my own guess may be that they may be willing to consider some kind of ceasefire along the present lines of territorial control.”

But, as Dr Anna-Sophie Maass, lecturer in international relations and diplomacy at Lancaster University, told Factcheck: “Safeguarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity is crucial”.

Is the Russia-Ukraine war any closer to ending?

Almost three years ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine, displacing millions of people and destroying homes and businesses across the country.

But is it any closer to ending?

Prof Gleditsch told FactCheck: “The war may be closer to ending in the short term as it is difficult for Ukraine to continue fighting now without sustained support from the US, and both sides face many constraints in continuing military combat at the current very high levels.”

But he added that there are “many obstacles” to a “long-term stable settlement”, such as “whether Ukraine will accept a proposed agreement, and how this could be implemented, including trust, who will provide security guarantees, observers, or force deployments, and how this will be financed”.

What do the UK and Europe want to happen in peace talks over Ukraine?

A group of European leaders – including UK prime minister Keir Starmer – gathered in Paris yesterday for their own peace talks about Ukraine and Russia.

The last-minute meeting was called over the weekend by French President Emmanuel Macron and included representatives from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Denmark and the EU Council.

After the meeting, Sir Keir said: “At stake is not just the future of Ukraine, it is an existential question for Europe as a whole and therefore vital for Britain’s national interest. This is a once in a generation moment for the collective security of our continent.”

He added that “Europeans will have to step up, both in terms of spending and the capabilities that we provide,” and that in regards to Ukraine, “we’re at the very early stage of the process”.

But he said “there must be a US backstop because a US security guarantee is the only way to effectively deter Russia from attacking Ukraine again”.

Sir Keir said he will go to Washington next week to meet President Trump to discuss “what we see as the key elements of a lasting peace”, with a further meeting with European colleagues in the works for when he returns from the US.

But Prof Ghosn added that “key concerns remain”, as the exclusion of European nations and the UK – which have been among Ukraine’s strongest supporters – from the US-Russia talks “raises serious questions about the balance of power at the negotiating table”.

“Without their involvement, Ukraine could face increased pressure to accept terms that may not fully align with its sovereignty and security interests,” Prof Ghosn said.

And “a deal brokered primarily between the US and Russia risks fragmenting Western support and weakening future enforcement mechanisms”.

(Image credit: Freddie Everett/Us State/Planet Pix via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)