US-Ukraine discussions commence in Saudi Arabia following a significant drone strike on Russia

Ukrainian and U.S. officials commenced discussions in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, seeking a resolution to the ongoing conflict with Russia. This meeting followed Kyiv’s forces executing their most extensive drone assault on Moscow to date. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed hope that the negotiations in Jeddah would help restore “pragmatic” relations with the U.S., particularly after a challenging encounter with President Donald Trump last month. He has proposed an initial ceasefire with Russia, both in the air and at sea.

This initiative aims to align with Trump’s goal of swiftly concluding the war, especially after the U.S. president criticized the Ukrainian leader for his perceived lack of readiness for peace and emphasized the need for direct negotiations with Russia. The United States, which has been Ukraine’s primary ally since the 2022 invasion, has recently altered its approach to the conflict, exerting pressure on Ukraine by halting military aid and suspending intelligence sharing.

“We anticipate practical results,” Zelenskiy stated in a post on X late Monday, prior to the talks. “Ukraine’s stance in these discussions will be entirely constructive.”

In a significant escalation, Ukraine executed its largest drone strike on Moscow, deploying at least 91 drones, resulting in one fatality, igniting fires, and leading to airport closures and flight diversions, according to Russian officials. The timing of this attack, during which Moscow reported downing 337 drones, seemed intended to demonstrate Kyiv’s capability for substantial strikes following a series of Russian missile assaults, one of which resulted in at least 14 deaths on Saturday. Zelenskiy has urged his European allies to back his truce proposal, viewing it as an opportunity to gauge Moscow’s willingness to end the conflict.

Ukraine has sought to strengthen its relationship with the United States following the tensions between President Zelenskiy and former President Trump, which left a bilateral minerals agreement unresolved and hindered Kyiv’s efforts to secure security assurances from Washington. Trump has characterized the upcoming discussions about the deal, scheduled for Tuesday, as crucial for maintaining U.S. support and as a form of compensation for the substantial military aid provided to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion three years ago.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated to reporters on Monday while traveling to Jeddah that the negotiations with Kyiv would be significant in determining Ukraine’s willingness to make necessary concessions for peace. “We need to comprehend the Ukrainian stance and have a general understanding of what compromises they might consider, as a ceasefire and resolution to this conflict will require concessions from both parties,” he remarked.

Accompanying the Secretary of State is U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz for the discussions. The Ukrainian delegation is headed by Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Zelenskiy. Notably, Zelenskiy is currently in Saudi Arabia meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and will not participate in the talks. The Ukrainian foreign ministry announced on Telegram, “A meeting of the Ukrainian and American delegations has commenced in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,” sharing a video of senior Ukrainian officials entering the meeting venue around 0900 GMT.

Ahead of the discussions, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East who has been involved in Ukraine diplomacy, expressed optimism that the U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement would be finalized soon. According to a source familiar with the plans, Witkoff intends to travel to Moscow for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

CONCESSIONS ON TERRITORY?

Ukraine’s European allies maintain that the country should only engage in peace negotiations with Russia from a position of strength, emphasizing that Kyiv should not be hurried into discussions with an aggressor. President Zelenskiy has asserted that Putin is not interested in peace and cautioned that Russia may target other European nations if its invasion of Ukraine does not culminate in a decisive defeat.

On Monday, Rubio refrained from detailing the concessions that each side might need to make but acknowledged that Ukraine would face challenges in regaining all of its lost territory. “The Russians can’t conquer all of Ukraine, and it will undoubtedly be very challenging for Ukraine to push the Russians back to their 2014 borders within a reasonable timeframe,” he stated to reporters.

Currently, Russia occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and its forces are advancing in the eastern Donetsk region. In February, U.S. and Russian officials held a rare meeting in Saudi Arabia, focusing primarily on rebuilding relations after a significant halt in official communications during the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, Trump’s predecessor.