Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prior to discussions involving Ukrainian and U.S. officials, which Washington anticipates will lead to significant advancements in efforts to conclude Russia’s war against Ukraine.
During their meeting in Jeddah, the crown prince emphasized Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting global initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis in Ukraine and achieving lasting peace, as reported by the Saudi state news agency SPA on Tuesday.
The United States, previously Ukraine’s primary ally, has shifted its strategy regarding the conflict, seeking a swift resolution by engaging directly with Moscow while halting military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which faced a large-scale invasion by Russian forces in 2022. In light of this new approach from the White House, Ukraine has advocated for more “pragmatic” relations following a contentious meeting between Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump last month.
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion, Saudi Arabia has acted as a mediator, facilitating prisoner exchanges and hosting discussions between Moscow and Washington last month. The talks on Tuesday between U.S. and Ukrainian officials mark the first formal session since Zelenskiy’s unsuccessful meeting at the White House, with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressing optimism.
“I believe we are approaching this with the expectation of making significant progress,” he stated in an interview with Fox News. When asked about the possibility of Zelenskiy returning to the U.S. to finalize a minerals agreement this week, Witkoff expressed hope, noting, “All indications are very, very positive.”
In contrast, Secretary of State Marco Rubio adopted a more cautious stance, indicating that further details regarding the minerals deal still need to be addressed. He mentioned that the discussions could still be deemed successful even without a signed agreement and highlighted the importance of assessing Kyiv’s willingness to make concessions for peace.
Under significant pressure from Trump, Zelenskiy has been striving to demonstrate Kyiv’s commitment to a swift resolution of the war, even though he has not secured the U.S. security guarantees that Ukraine deems essential for any peace agreement. Zelenskiy announced that he will not participate in the discussions with U.S. officials on Tuesday, while the Ukrainian delegation will consist of his chief of staff, the foreign and defense ministers, and a senior military official from the presidential administration.
“We are fully dedicated to engaging in constructive dialogue and hope to discuss and finalize the necessary decisions and actions,” Zelenskiy stated in a post on X. “Realistic proposals are available. The priority is to act swiftly and effectively.”
U.S. officials indicated that part of the meeting’s purpose is to assess whether Kyiv is prepared to make significant concessions to Russia to facilitate an end to the conflict. One U.S. official remarked, “We want to determine if the Ukrainians are not only interested in peace but also in a feasible peace.” Trump expressed optimism about the upcoming discussions, noting that Washington had “just about” resumed intelligence sharing with Kyiv. Rubio mentioned that Ukraine was already receiving all necessary U.S. defensive intelligence, adding, “I hope we can resolve the pause in aid broadly… I believe what occurs tomorrow will be crucial to that.” On the eve of the talks, Russia initiated air strikes targeting Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, with the Ukrainian air force reporting a heightened risk of missile attacks.
FRAMEWORK FOR AN AGREEMENT
Witkoff, who has been facilitating the discussions, stated that the objective is to establish a framework for a peace agreement along with an initial ceasefire. Zelenskiy has advocated for a ceasefire both in the air and at sea, as well as a prisoner exchange, viewing this as a potential measure of Russia’s dedication to concluding the conflict.
Moscow has dismissed the notion of a temporary ceasefire, which has also been suggested by Britain and France, arguing that it serves merely to provide time for Kyiv and avert its military downfall. Zelenskiy has indicated that Kyiv is prepared to finalize a minerals agreement with the U.S., which would establish a joint fund from the sale of Ukrainian minerals.
Washington emphasizes the importance of maintaining ongoing U.S. support. With uncertainties surrounding U.S. assistance, Zelenskiy has been urging his European allies to enhance their support as Kyiv’s military situation worsens and it faces increasing pressure to withdraw from Russia’s Kursk region.
Russia currently occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and its forces are intensifying their efforts in the eastern Donetsk region, escalating drone and missile attacks on cities and towns far from the front lines.
According to Zelenskiy, Russia has deployed 1,200 aerial guided bombs, nearly 870 attack drones, and over 80 missiles against Ukraine in just the past week.
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