“We’re talking about territory right now. We’re talking about lines of demarcation, Talking about power, power plant ownership. Some people are saying the United States should own the power plant … because we have the expertise,” he said.

Russian attack continues amid ceasefire talks

“Russia is the only one dragging this war out,” Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says. Source: Getty / Hu Yousong

As the talks were under way in Saudi Arabia, Russian missiles struck the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine.

The White House says the initial aim of the Saudi talks is to secure a maritime truce in the Black Sea, allowing the free flow of shipping.

Putin says he is ready to discuss peace but that Ukraine must officially drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw its troops from the entirety of four Ukrainian regions that Russia has unilaterally annexed.