- US pressures Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire with Russia without security guarantees.
- Zelensky under strain as military aid and intelligence sharing remain paused.
- Talks in Saudi Arabia aim to establish a framework for ending the war.
The Trump administration believes Ukraine’s leadership is prepared to engage in US-backed ceasefire talks with Russia, a senior State Department official has said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are set to meet their Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss the proposal. President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a swift ceasefire with Moscow—without an immediate US security guarantee. The two leaders publicly clashed at the White House ten days ago, with Trump asserting that Zelensky was not yet ready to end the fighting.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
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“The fact that they’re coming here at senior levels is a good indication that they are willing to move forward,” said the US official, speaking anonymously about the Jeddah talks.
Although Zelensky is also scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is not expected to directly participate in the discussions with US officials. Instead, Ukraine will be represented by his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, along with the country’s national security adviser, foreign minister, and defence minister.
In a video address on Sunday, Zelensky expressed hope for progress, saying, “We hope for results—both in bringing peace closer and in continuing support.”
Zelensky has faced mounting US pressure to make concessions in peace talks, while he has been pushing for firm security guarantees for Kyiv, citing Putin’s past violations of ceasefire agreements. Any pressure Washington may be exerting on Moscow to reciprocate remains undisclosed.
Following the White House dispute, Zelensky sought to mend ties with the US—Ukraine’s largest military aid provider. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, later revealed that Trump had received a letter from Zelensky expressing “apology” and “gratitude.”
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Witkoff stated that the Jeddah meetings aim to establish a framework for ending the war. A major minerals deal—stalled by the US-Ukraine tensions—has reportedly resurfaced on the agenda. Kyiv has offered Washington access to its rare earth mineral reserves in exchange for security guarantees.
The White House confrontation also led to a temporary freeze on US military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. However, when asked on Sunday whether he would lift the intelligence restrictions, Trump responded, “Well, we just about have. I mean, we really just about have, and we want to do anything we can to get Ukraine to be serious about getting something done.” He did not elaborate further.
On February 18—before the Washington dispute—Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia, following Trump’s widely debated phone call with Putin.
