RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the country will host talks between the US and Ukraine in Jeddah next week.
In a statement, it said the Kingdom welcomed the prospect of hosting the meeting and reaffirmed its ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.
It said the Kingdom continued these efforts over the past three years by hosting many meetings on this matter.
#Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses Saudi Arabia's welcoming of hosting the scheduled meeting between the United States of America and Ukraine, which will be held in Jeddah next week. pic.twitter.com/8KMisEYu5v
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) March 7, 2025
Saudi Arabia has played a key role in facilitating numerous discussions aimed at supporting a diplomatic solution over the past three years and remains dedicated to encouraging dialogue and promoting stability.
This meeting comes after recent talks in Riyadh between the US and Russia, where officials addressed a range of international issues, including the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
The two sides also discussed the potential for a summit between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
The US delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had travelled to Riyadh with the primary aim of both seeking to find a resolution to the conflict and beginning the process of thawing US-Russian relations.
The meeting, attended by senior officials including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, marked a shift in the US foreign policy under President Trump.
Zelensky expresses concerns
Interestingly, no Ukrainian officials were present at the talks, an absence that was met with criticism from Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sharply criticised the talks, insisting that any peace negotiations on Ukraine must involve Ukrainian representatives.
Speaking during an official visit to Turkey, Zelensky said, “Talks are taking place between representatives of Russia and representatives of the United States of America. About Ukraine — about Ukraine again — and without Ukraine.”
The Saudi Cabinet had welcomed the high-level talks between the United States and Russia to discuss the Ukraine war, adding the discussions reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global peace and security.
