- US and Ukrainian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia for peace framework discussions.
- Talks follow Trump’s suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
- Zelenskyy to visit Saudi Arabia, with his team engaging in negotiations with US officials.
US and Ukrainian officials have confirmed plans to meet in Saudi Arabia next week to discuss a potential peace framework for ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
The announcement follows Washington’s recent suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a move that came days after a heated exchange between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
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Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated that discussions are underway to finalise the location, with meetings expected to take place in either Riyadh or Jeddah. “The idea is to establish a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire,” Witkoff told reporters outside the White House on Thursday.
Zelensky confirmed he will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks with the Crown Prince, while his team will remain in the country to engage with US officials. “Ukraine is most interested in peace,” he said in an evening address.
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This marks the first high-level engagement between US and Ukrainian officials since their tense February 28 meeting, which ended in a public dispute and saw Zelensky asked to leave the White House. The fallout led Trump to cut off intelligence-sharing and military support.
However, on Tuesday, Trump acknowledged receiving a letter from Zelensky in which the Ukrainian leader expressed “readiness to negotiate as soon as possible.”
