Wide gulf remains between US and Russian expectations for a ceasefire; US envoy dismisses UK PM’s Ukraine plans as ‘a posture and a pose’. What we know on day 1,125A US delegation will seek progress toward a Black Sea ceasefire and a broader cessation of violence in the war in Ukraine when it meets for talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia on Monday, after discussions with diplomats from Ukraine on Sunday. The White House says the aim of the talks is to reach a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, allowing the free flow of shipping.A wide gulf remains, however, between the US’ and Russia’s expectations, with US envoy Steve Witkoff signalling hope for “real progress” and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warning that “difficult negotiations” lie ahead. “I think 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,” Witkoff told Fox News. “And from that you’ll naturally gravitate to a full-on shooting ceasefire.” Peskov meanwhile told Russian state TV, “We are only at the beginning of this path.”Witkoff dismissed UK prime minister Keir Starmer’s attempts to rally peacekeepers in Ukraine as “a posture and a pose.” He said the idea was based on a “simplistic” notion of the UK prime minister and other European leaders thinking: “We have all got to be like Winston Churchill.”The US envoy also praised Vladimir Putin, saying he “liked” the Russian president and did not “regard Putin as a bad guy”