US to Assess Ukraine’s Peace Stance in Saudi Arabia Meeting
US officials are planning to use Tuesday’s meeting with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia in part to determine whether Ukraine is willing to make material concessions to Russia to end the war, according to two US officials.
The US delegation will also be watching for signs that the Ukrainians are serious about improving ties with the Trump administration after a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy devolved into an argument last month, said one of the officials, who requested anonymity to preview the closed-door talks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will fly to Jeddah on Sunday for the bilateral talks with Ukrainian officials, who will be led by Andriy Yermak, a top Zelenskiy aide. Rubio is expected to be joined by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Trump expressed optimism about the talks. “We’re going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week,” he told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One.
Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address that he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to “continue to work for the sake of peace.”
He added that he hopes that the talks between his team and US officials will bring results.
“This concerns both, bringing peace closer and continuing support,” Zelenskiy said.
