U.S. and Ukrainian officials are set to meet in Jeddah on Tuesday for high-level discussions aimed at mending ties and assessing whether Kyiv is prepared to make concessions under President Donald Trump’s push to swiftly end Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The talks come in the wake of a contentious White House meeting last month between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which left relations between the two allies deeply strained.
In recent months, Washington—once Ukraine’s staunchest ally—has shifted its policy in favor of a rapid resolution to the conflict. The Trump administration has notably engaged directly with Moscow, halted military assistance to Kyiv, and paused intelligence sharing since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These moves have compounded the pressure on Ukraine, especially regarding a minerals deal that Trump has touted as key to securing continued U.S. support and compensating for nearly $65 billion in military aid.
“We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they’d be willing to make, because you’re not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday while en route to Jeddah. Rubio, along with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, will meet senior Ukrainian officials led by Andriy Yermak, a top aide to President Zelenskyy. Notably, Zelenskyy, who is in Saudi Arabia meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will not be part of the discussions.
Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff—recently assigned to Ukraine diplomacy—expressed hope that the long-stalled U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal would eventually be signed. Witkoff is also expected to visit Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin, following a previous high-level encounter last month.
Ukraine’s European allies have cautioned that Kyiv must negotiate from a position of strength and avoid rushing to the bargaining table with an aggressor. President Zelenskyy has warned that Russia’s war aims extend beyond Ukraine, suggesting that further attacks on other European nations remain a possibility if the conflict does not culminate in a decisive Russian defeat. Meanwhile, Rubio noted that it would be extremely challenging for Ukraine to reclaim all of its lost territory, given that Russian forces currently control around a fifth of the country, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and are pressing in the eastern Donetsk region.
This upcoming meeting in Saudi Arabia follows a rare encounter between U.S. and Russian officials in Jeddah last month—a meeting aimed at restoring ties after nearly a complete freeze in official contact under the previous Biden administration. As Washington and Kyiv navigate these complex diplomatic waters, observers remain keenly focused on the potential implications for future U.S. support and the broader prospects for peace in the region.
US and Ukrainian officials have begun talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to explore the possibility of a peace deal with Russia, with Ukraine proposing a partial ceasefire to regain US support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will travel to Saudi Arabia tomorrow for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, ahead of further talks with U.S. officials later in the week on peace efforts to end the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Military financing has been stopped, and officials are meeting to consider suspending another type of assistance
European leaders’ summit group photo at Lancaster House, London.
A Russian missile strike on a grain vessel in the Black Sea port of Odesa killed four people and damaged key infrastructure, underscoring the ongoing threats to Ukraine's vital export routes amid the ongoing war.
NASA has launched two missions to explore the universe’s origins and the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The SPHEREx observatory and PUNCH satellite constellation will map the cosmos and study solar wind, helping scientists understand cosmic evolution and improve space weather forecasts.
On March 12, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Ismail Serageldin, co-chairs of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, along with former heads of state, government, and Board of Trustees members.
The European Union will impose counter tariffs on 26 billion euros ($28 billion) worth of U.S. goods from next month, the European Commission said on Wednesday, ramping up a global trade war in response to blanket U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium.
President Donald Trump is preparing a new travel ban that could block entry for people from Afghanistan and Pakistan as early as next week. The move is part of an intensified immigration crackdown.
Italy’s League party urges the government to favour Starlink over French-led Eutelsat for satellite communication systems, citing Starlink's technological edge. The push comes amid delays in the EU’s IRIS² program, as Italy seeks secure communication solutions for officials.
XPeng Motors plans to mass-produce flying cars by 2026, becoming the first company globally to do so. CEO He Xiaopeng also highlighted advancements in autonomous driving and humanoid robotics as part of the company’s future tech initiatives.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is set to condemn Trump’s Gaza “Riviera” plan, backing Egypt’s $53 billion reconstruction proposal. A classified draft resolution, rejects the relocation of Gazans, calls for urgent international support, and mobilises opposition to the U.S. stance.
A Russian missile strike on a grain vessel in the Black Sea port of Odesa killed four people and damaged key infrastructure, underscoring the ongoing threats to Ukraine's vital export routes amid the ongoing war.
Cuba has granted early release to 553 prisoners as part of a deal mediated by the Holy See during the final days of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s presidency.
Russian officials express reservations over the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, highlighting the need for guarantees and the ongoing military situation.
Vietnam and Singapore have agreed to enhance cooperation in subsea cables, finance, and energy, upgrading their relations to a "comprehensive strategic relationship." They aim to expand digital connectivity and meet the growing demand for data services, with Singapore investing heavily in Vietnam.
China will hold talks with Russia and Iran in Beijing on Iran’s nuclear programme, following a UN Security Council meeting on uranium enrichment concerns.
A Russian missile strike on a grain vessel in the Black Sea port of Odesa killed four people and damaged key infrastructure, underscoring the ongoing threats to Ukraine's vital export routes amid the ongoing war.
NASA has launched two missions to explore the universe’s origins and the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The SPHEREx observatory and PUNCH satellite constellation will map the cosmos and study solar wind, helping scientists understand cosmic evolution and improve space weather forecasts.
On March 12, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Ismail Serageldin, co-chairs of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, along with former heads of state, government, and Board of Trustees members.
The European Union will impose counter tariffs on 26 billion euros ($28 billion) worth of U.S. goods from next month, the European Commission said on Wednesday, ramping up a global trade war in response to blanket U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium.
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