Preliminary talks between Thailand and Cambodia defense officials started on Monday in Malaysia ahead of a key ministerial level meeting on Thursday, as a fragile truce continues to hold a week after the two sides agreed on a ceasefire.

Long-simmering tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated to deadly violence on July 24, setting off five days of military clashes at multiple spots along the roughly 800-kilometer (500 mile) border.

A threat by President Donald Trump to halt trade negotiations with both Cambodia and Thailand until a truce had been reached forced both sides to the negotiating table. Even so, the ceasefire looks shaky.