Zelenskiy Seeks Saudi Support as U.S. Pushes for U...

Zelenskiy Seeks Saudi Support as U.S. Pushes for Ukraine Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (left) with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right)

Zim Now Writer

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah as the United States shifts its approach to the war in Ukraine, pressing for a peace agreement.

Saudi Arabia, which has played a mediating role since Russia's invasion in 2022, reiterated its support for diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, according to the Saudi state news agency.

On Tuesday, senior Ukrainian and U.S. officials will hold their first formal discussions since a contentious Oval Office meeting between Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump last month. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism about making “substantial progress” toward a peace framework.

The White House has recalibrated its stance, halting military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine while engaging directly with Moscow. U.S. officials are now seeking to gauge whether Kyiv is willing to make concessions to reach an agreement.

While Zelenskiy will not attend Tuesday’s discussions, his delegation—comprising his chief of staff, foreign and defense ministers, and a top military advisor—will engage with U.S. officials.

"We are fully committed to a constructive dialogue and hope to agree on necessary steps," Zelenskiy stated on social media.

The proposed framework includes an initial ceasefire and a prisoner exchange as a test of Russia’s commitment to peace. However, Moscow has dismissed these efforts, arguing that a temporary truce would only give Kyiv time to regroup.

Amid these diplomatic maneuvers, Russia has escalated its attacks, launching over 1,200 aerial bombs, nearly 870 drones, and more than 80 missiles at Ukraine in the past week, according to Zelenskiy.

With U.S. military support uncertain, Zelenskiy has urged European allies to step up assistance. Ukraine’s battlefield position is increasingly precarious, with Russian forces advancing in eastern Ukraine and intensifying strikes far from the front lines.

One key issue in discussions is a potential minerals agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. The deal, which would create a joint fund from Ukrainian mineral sales, is seen as crucial for securing continued American backing.

Trump has suggested that the U.S. is close to resuming intelligence sharing with Kyiv, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that key details still need to be worked out. He emphasized that progress in Tuesday’s talks could help resolve outstanding issues.