US, Ukraine begin talks in Saudi Arabia on prospects for peace with Russia

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.

US and Ukrainian delegations have commenced talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to explore the possibility of a peace agreement with Russia.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha are participating in the discussions, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also in attendance, according to Al Arabiya TV.

Ukraine is expected to present a proposal for a partial ceasefire with Russia to regain support from Washington, the channel reported.

The talks are seen as an effort to strengthen US-Ukraine relations, which have been strained in recent weeks, including a recent disagreement between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump.

On Sunday, Trump stated that the US anticipates Ukraine demonstrating a commitment to peace.

"We're going to make a lot of progress," he remarked.

On Monday, Zelenskyy reiterated on Telegram that Ukraine has been seeking peace since the war began, asserting that Russia is the sole reason the conflict persists.

Russia launched its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Moscow demands Ukraine renounce its aspirations to join Western military alliances as a precondition for peace, which Ukraine sees as an infringement on its sovereignty.

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