KEY POINTS
- US and Ukrainian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss a ceasefire with Russia
- Trump administration pushing Ukraine for a swift truce
- Ukraine to propose a ceasefire in aerial and naval operations as an initial step
- Washington has paused military aid and intelligence-sharing to pressure Ukraine into talks
- Zelensky insists Russia is solely responsible for prolonging the war
- European countries fear Trump may push for a settlement favouring Russia
- US aims to establish a framework for peace
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration believes Ukraine’s leadership is “ready to move forward” with the US’s demand for a ceasefire process with Russia, as senior officials from Washington and Kyiv prepare to meet in Saudi Arabia for talks, a senior US State Department official said on Monday.
The official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said that the upcoming talks in Jeddah indicate Kyiv’s willingness to engage in negotiations.
“The fact that they’re coming here at senior levels is a good indication to us that they want to sit down and they’re ready to move forward,” the official said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to meet their Ukrainian counterparts.
The talks come amid mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a ceasefire with Moscow—without any immediate security guarantees from Washington.
US pressure and Ukrainian response
Trump has intensified calls for a swift truce, with his administration urging Ukraine to consider concessions in order to move towards peace.
Tensions between Washington and Kyiv were evident last week when Trump and Zelensky clashed at the White House, with Trump accusing the Ukrainian leader of being reluctant to end the war.
Zelensky, however, maintains that Ukraine has sought peace since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“Ukraine has been seeking peace since the very first second of the war, and we have always said that the only reason that the war is continuing is because of Russia,” he wrote on social media on Monday.
Proposal for limited ceasefire
A Ukrainian official, also speaking anonymously, told AFP that Kyiv plans to propose a limited truce focused on aerial and naval operations.
“We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea,” the official said, adding that these measures would be “easier to install and monitor” as an initial step towards broader peace negotiations.
The Ukrainian delegation at the talks will include Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, and military commander Pavlo Palisa.
Zelensky himself is due to meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman but is not expected to take part in the formal discussions with US officials.
US leverage and strategic interests
The United States has suspended military aid to Ukraine, along with intelligence-sharing and access to satellite imagery, in an attempt to push Kyiv towards negotiations.
A senior Ukrainian official said that such measures, if prolonged, could give Russia a “significant advantage” on the battlefield.
British newspaper The Financial Times, citing a source briefed on the talks, reported that Kyiv hopes a partial ceasefire proposal will convince Washington to resume military support.
Meanwhile, The Economist reported that Ukraine is wary of any agreement that would curb its ability to re-arm, legitimise Russian control over occupied territories, or interfere with its political processes, such as forcing early elections.
Concerns over Trump’s approach
Trump has renewed communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin, sparking fears in Kyiv and among European allies that he may push for a settlement favouring Russia.
However, on Friday, Trump stated that he was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, claiming Russia was “absolutely pounding Ukraine on the battlefield right now.”
European leaders have pledged continued support for Ukraine, with multiple NATO countries announcing increased defence spending following a recent summit with Zelensky.
The Jeddah talks follow a tense exchange at the White House, after which Zelensky declined to sign a minerals deal demanded by Trump.
The Ukrainian leader later described the situation as “regrettable” and signalled readiness to cooperate with the US president’s strategic plans.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said that Washington aims to establish “a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire” during the Saudi discussions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Rubio in Riyadh last month, where both sides agreed to resume dialogue and explore solutions to the conflict.
