Meeting in Jeddah: What you need to know about Ukraine-US talks in Saudi Arabia

Contest

• Main points of the Ukraine-US meeting
• Participants of the negotiations
• Expectations of the Ukrainian side
• What the US says about the meeting

Main points of the Ukraine-US meeting

The negotiations between the Ukrainian and American delegations are scheduled for Tuesday, March 11. The meeting will take place in Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking about the agenda of the meeting, both sides highlighted that the main focus will be on discussing ways to achieve peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The talks will also cover the strategic partnership between the two countries. Additionally, there are plans to revisit the issue of the resource agreement that was supposed to be signed during President Zelenskyy's visit to the US on February 28.

The negotiations will take place ten days after the previous round in Washington, which ended early due to a heated exchange between the parties and the subsequent decision by the White House to suspend military aid and limit the sharing of intelligence with Ukraine.

Participants of the negotiations

The Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah includes:

• Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andrii Yermak;
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha;
• Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov;
• Deputy Head of the President's Office Pavlo Palisa;
• Representatives of the diplomatic corps.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also traveled to Saudi Arabia but will not personally participate in the negotiations with the US. He arrived in the country on the evening of March 10 for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The US delegation at the negotiations will include:

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio;
• US President’s Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff;
• US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

Expectations of the Ukrainian side

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that the negotiations in Saudi Arabia will be productive and take Ukrainian interests into account.

"We are preparing for a meeting in Saudi Arabia. I am confident that the meeting will be productive. We in Ukraine are determined for this. Very determined. We will do everything to ensure that Ukrainian interests are considered — the way they need to be," the president emphasized.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the agenda in Jeddah will include bilateral relations, strategic partnership, its further development, and at the center of attention – the path to peace in Ukraine.

According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Heorhii Tykhyi, the meeting will also provide a good opportunity to discuss President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal for a ceasefire with Russia in the air and at sea, as a first step toward ending the war.

Additionally, the Ukrainian side may sign an agreement with the US regarding minerals, which was planned during Zelenskyy's visit to Washington. Heorhii Tykhyi stated that Ukraine remains ready to sign the agreement, and the meeting in Saudi Arabia will be one of the opportunities to do so.

As Western media reports, Ukraine will try to convince the US during the March 11 negotiations to resume intelligence sharing and military aid, offering a partial ceasefire with Russia in exchange. This would include a ban on strikes using long-range drones and missiles, as well as a halt to hostilities in the Black Sea. In doing so, Kyiv aims to demonstrate to Trump President Zelenskyy's desire to end the war, journalists note.

Ukraine is also likely to insist that any peace agreement that limits its rearmament capabilities, forces the legal recognition of occupied territories as Russian, or interferes in the country's internal politics (including imposing elections during martial law) is unacceptable.

Furthermore, Ukraine is expected to continue demanding security guarantees from the US. Allied nations such as the UK and France are pushing for the US to agree to provide reserve forces for European peacekeepers in the event of a full ceasefire, although Washington has yet to make any commitments.

What the US says about the meeting

US representatives have expressed optimistic forecasts for the meeting, with key topics including discussions on a framework peace agreement, the potential signing of a deal on rare earth resources, and the resumption of intelligence sharing.

Ahead of the negotiations in Jeddah, US President Donald Trump stated that he expects positive outcomes.

"I believe that this week we will make significant progress," he said.

According to Trump, a deal on minerals may be signed at the meeting, but Ukraine must demonstrate a willingness for peace.

US delegation member Steve Witkoff also hopes for significant progress in the negotiations, particularly regarding the signing of a deal on natural resources.

He added that Ukraine and the US will discuss intelligence sharing. At the same time, he emphasized that the US has never closed access to intelligence information for the protection that Ukrainians need.

Earlier, Witkoff mentioned that the purpose of the meeting with the Ukrainians was to lay the foundation for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire.

Another US representative, President's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, confirmed Steve Witkoff's remarks, stating that the discussions in Jeddah will focus on a framework for a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

The third participant in the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed hope for constructive negotiations that will help determine Ukraine's position.

"It is important to clearly define Ukraine's intentions regarding a peaceful settlement and also confirm that Ukraine is ready to make tough decisions, just as the Russians are," emphasized US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He also suggested that the issue of suspending military aid to Ukraine could be addressed in Saudi Arabia.

"I believe that the concept of a pause in aid, in a broader sense, is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, what happens tomorrow will be crucial for this," the Secretary of State shared regarding expectations from the March 11 meeting.

Earlier, Western media reported that the US side of the negotiations aimed to determine whether Ukraine was willing to make material concessions to end the war. One source quoted by Reuters mentioned that the US delegation wants to ensure the seriousness of Ukraine's intentions to improve relations with the Trump administration following the dispute at the White House on February 28.

The article was prepared using articles from Reuters, SkyNews, The Guardian, Axios, Fox News, statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a briefing by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi.