Delegation details for Saudi talks: Will Zelenskyy and Trump be involved?
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
In Saudi Arabia, a meeting between Ukrainian and American officials is set to take place as early as tomorrow, March 11. They plan to discuss a possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, among other topics.
More details on the composition of the delegations and whether Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump will participate in the negotiations can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report below.
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Zelenskyy's trip to Saudi Arabia
Plans for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Saudi Arabia became known in February, with the trip initially scheduled for February 19. However, the visit was postponed after the American and Russian delegations met in Riyadh on February 18, and Zelenskyy "did not want any overlap."
Last week, the president confirmed that he would visit Saudi Arabia on March 10 and meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
"After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace," the president clarified.
At the same time, he did not mention the possibility of his participation in the meeting with American officials.
Trump's plans
Just a few days after his inauguration, US President Donald Trump announced that he was choosing the country for his first foreign visit. According to the American leader, the possibility of a trip to either the United Kingdom or Saudi Arabia was being discussed.
"It could be Saudi Arabia. Could be UK. Traditionally it’s been UK. But last time, I went to Saudi Arabia because they agreed to buy 450 billion dollars’ worth of United States merchandise," he stated at the end of January.
In February, Trump suggested he might visit Saudi Arabia for a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Last week, the American leader even set a condition for his visit to Saudi Arabia. As Trump declared, the trip would take place if a $1 trillion deal was signed.
"Last time I went to Saudi Arabia they put up $450 billion. I said well, this time they've gotten richer, we've all gotten older so I said I'll go if you pay $1 trillion to American companies, meaning the purchase over a four-year period of $ 1 trillion and they've agreed to do that," he clarified.
At the same time, Trump did not mention any specific dates or even approximate timelines. He also did not announce any plans to participate in a meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah.
Composition of the delegations
As of now, it is known that the US delegation will include:
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs Steve Witkoff
- US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz
It is worth noting that the US delegation met with the Russian delegation in Riyadh on February 18 in this very composition.
The Ukrainian delegation will include:
- Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak (who will lead the delegation)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha
- Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov
- Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa
Zelenskyy also mentioned that several other representatives of the diplomatic corps would participate in the negotiations, though he did not name any specific individuals.
Last week, the advisor to the head of the Office of the President, Mykhailo Podolyak, in a comment to the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel, stated that at the meeting in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and US officials would discuss an agreement on minerals, military aid for Ukraine, and the format of negotiations with Russia.
