Riyadh (Web Desk): Ukrainian and US officials convened for crucial discussions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, aiming to find a way to end the ongoing war with Russia. The talks came just hours after Ukraine launched its largest-ever drone strike on Moscow, a clear demonstration of Kyiv's ability to retaliate.
"The meeting has begun very constructively," Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said on Telegram, highlighting the positive tone of the initial discussions.
Zelenskiy, hoping to restore "pragmatic" relations with the US after a tense meeting with President Donald Trump last month, has proposed a truce with Russia in the air and at sea.
This idea is intended to show his willingness to work toward Trump's goal of ending the war quickly, despite the US president accusing Zelenskiy of not being prepared for peace talks and moving ahead with direct negotiations with Moscow.
As the talks unfold, Ukraine’s European allies are closely monitoring the situation for any indication of improvement—or further deterioration—in Kyiv's relationship with the US, which has caused turmoil in US policy regarding the war. The US has already halted military aid and paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move that has raised concerns in Europe.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed hope that the Jeddah meeting could lead to a reversal of these decisions.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also weighed in, urging both sides to seize the moment: “Dear Americans, dear Ukrainians, don’t waste this chance. The whole world is watching you in Jeddah today. Good luck!”
Ukraine’s drone attack on Moscow overnight, involving at least 91 drones, marked its largest strike on the Russian capital to date, killing three people and causing significant disruptions, including airport closures and flight diversions. "The strike — in which 337 drones were downed over Russia, according to Moscow — appeared aimed at showing Kyiv can also land major blows after a steady stream of Russian missile and drone attacks," Russian officials reported. The attack came on the heels of Russia’s missile strike in Ukraine that killed 14 people on Saturday, highlighting the brutal back-and-forth nature of the conflict.
Zelenskiy’s proposal for a truce in the air and at sea is part of his ongoing push to demonstrate that Russia may be willing to test peace efforts. As he presses European allies for support of this idea, he stresses that it could be a way to measure Russia's true intentions.
On the battlefield, however, Ukraine remains under considerable pressure, particularly in the Kursk region, where Russian forces are advancing in an attempt to oust Ukrainian troops who have been holding onto key land.
Zelenskiy’s previous confrontation with Trump, which led to stalled negotiations over a bilateral minerals deal, continues to impact relations.
The deal, which is expected to be discussed during the Jeddah talks, has been framed by
Trump as critical for securing continued US support for Ukraine.
It is also seen as a form of compensation for the billions of dollars in military aid the US has provided to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion three years ago.
Ahead of the talks, Yermak emphasized that security guarantees remain a vital issue for Ukraine, but indicated that any substantive discussions around them might only take place in the future. "Most important is how to start this process and we are very open," he said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, traveling to Jeddah, noted that the talks would be pivotal in determining whether Ukraine is prepared to make the necessary concessions to bring about peace.
"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," Rubio commented.
Though Zelenskiy himself was not attending the talks, having already met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia earlier, the discussions in Jeddah could have significant ramifications for future diplomatic efforts. Trump’s Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is also hopeful that the US-Ukraine minerals deal will soon be signed and is preparing to visit Moscow for direct talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine's European allies, however, remain firm in their belief that Kyiv can only achieve a successful peace deal from a position of strength. They argue that any rush to the bargaining table could benefit the aggressor.
Zelenskiy has consistently warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is uninterested in peace, and that if Russia is not decisively defeated in Ukraine, it could pose a threat to other European nations.
US officials have been hesitant to comment on potential concessions, with Rubio noting that Ukraine would likely face challenges in reclaiming all of its lost territory. "Russia holds around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and its troops are pressing on the eastern Donetsk region," Rubio observed.
The diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia come after a rare meeting between US and Russian officials in February, which focused on restoring some level of communication between the two former Cold War adversaries.
