Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was due to arrive in Saudi Arabia yesterday, a day ahead of crucial talks between Ukrainian and US officials on ending the war with Russia.
Highly anticipated negotiations today on resolving the three-year conflict would see US and Ukrainian officials meet for the first time since Zelenskiy’s disastrous White House visit last month.
Zelenskiy yesterday said that he would meet Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the nation’s de facto leader, after which his team “will stay for a meeting on Tuesday with the American team.”
Photo: AFP / Ukrainina Presidential Press Service
At the talks in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has said Washington wants “to get down a framework for a peace agreement, and an initial ceasefire as well.”
Zelenskiy has said Ukraine is “fully committed to constructive dialogue,” but wants its interests to be “taken into account in the right way.”
“We hope for results, both in terms of bringing peace closer and continuing support,” he said in his evening address on Sunday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was to fly to Jeddah yesterday, the US Department of State said. Mike Waltz, US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, has also confirmed his participation.
Zelenskiy said his negotiators would include Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiga and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, and Pavlo Palisa, a military commander and Yermak’s deputy.
Kyiv is in “constant contact with the US team,” Zelenskiy said.
Washington has suspended military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the table with Moscow, which launched its all-out invasion in February 2022 on orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has renewed communication with Putin and criticized Zelenskiy, raising fears in Kyiv and among European allies that the US leader might try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favoring Russia.
However, Trump on Friday last week said that he was considering further sanctions on Russia for “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield.
Ukraine’s European allies last week held a summit with Zelenskiy and announced that they would greatly increase defense spending.
The UK and France have proposed a truce for Ukraine, at sea and in the air, and a halt to Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine’s power facilities.
Ukrainian and British diplomats held talks in Kiyv at the weekend, Zelenskiy said.
The talks in Saudi Arabia come after a public altercation between Zelenskiy and Trump at the White House that led to the Ukrainian leaving without signing a minerals deal demanded by the US president.
Zelenskiy later called the incident “regrettable” and said he was ready to work with Trump’s “strong leadership.”
He also expressed readiness to sign the deal on strategic mineral reserves.
Witkoff said Trump received a letter from Zelenskiy, calling it “a very positive first step” and “an apology.”
Asked if Ukraine would sign the deal in Saudi Arabia, Witkoff said: “I think Zelenskiy has offered to sign it, and we’ll see if he follows through.”
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