U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he anticipates positive outcomes from discussions with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. He informed reporters that the administration is nearing the end of an intelligence pause regarding Ukraine and is evaluating various options concerning tariffs on Russia. Additionally, he expressed that there are no concerns about military exercises involving Russia, China, and Iran. “I believe we will achieve significant progress this week,” Trump remarked.
When questioned about the possibility of resuming intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Trump replied, “We are very close to doing so.” He expressed optimism that Ukraine would finalize a minerals agreement with the United States, adding, “I want them to desire peace.”
U.S. officials plan to utilize the meeting with the Ukrainian delegation on Tuesday to assess Ukraine’s willingness to make substantial concessions to Russia to facilitate an end to the conflict, according to two U.S. officials. The U.S. delegation will also be attentive to indications that Ukraine is serious about strengthening relations with the Trump administration, especially following a contentious meeting last month between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as noted by one official who requested anonymity to discuss the private negotiations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to Jeddah on Sunday for the bilateral discussions, which will be led by Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Zelenskiy. Rubio is expected to be accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. One U.S. official commented on the upcoming talks, stating, “You cannot express a desire for peace while simultaneously refusing to make any compromises.” Another official added, “We want to determine if the Ukrainians are genuinely interested in peace, particularly a realistic one. If their focus is solely on the borders of 2014 or 2022, that conveys a significant message.”
POSITION OF STRENGTH
Ukraine’s European allies contend that any agreement with Russia must come from a position of strength, emphasizing that Kyiv should not be hurried into negotiations with an aggressor. President Zelenskiy has asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace and warned that Russia may target other European nations if its invasion of Ukraine does not culminate in a decisive defeat.
In February, U.S. officials engaged in separate bilateral talks with Russian representatives in Riyadh, focusing primarily on re-establishing a functional relationship after a significant halt in official communications during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Recently, Trump has voiced his dissatisfaction with Ukraine, claiming that the eastern European nation is depleting its manpower and resources and urging it to swiftly negotiate with Russia. His administration has recently halted weapons shipments and some intelligence sharing with Kyiv, accusing Ukrainian leaders of lacking sufficient openness to a potential peace process. Critics argue that Trump’s actions could extend the conflict by bolstering Russia’s position, making it less likely for the country to agree to a fair peace settlement.
Meanwhile, Russian forces have been making gradual yet consistent advances in eastern Ukraine, while many Ukrainian troops who had launched an offensive into Russia’s Kursk region last summer find themselves nearly encircled. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes noted that Zelenskiy has made strides in mending the U.S.-Ukraine relationship following a contentious meeting with Trump on February 28.
He referenced remarks made by Trump during his address to the U.S. Congress the previous week, in which Trump mentioned receiving a conciliatory message from the Ukrainian president. “With meetings scheduled in Saudi Arabia next week, we anticipate hearing more encouraging developments that will hopefully lead to an end to this devastating conflict and loss of life,” Hughes stated. Witkoff, the envoy for the Middle East, expressed earlier this week his desire to discuss a “framework” for a potential ceasefire and peace agreement during the upcoming discussions.
The outcome of a minerals agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine looms over Jeddah. Zelenskiy and Trump were expected to finalize this agreement—granting the U.S. access to specific mineral resources in Ukraine—during Zelenskiy’s visit to the White House. However, following a fallout between the two leaders, the signing did not take place. Since that time, both parties have shown a renewed interest in finalizing the deal, but it remains unsigned. The State Department and the Ukrainian embassy in Washington have not yet responded to requests for comments.
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