JEDDAH/KYIV:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia for ceasefire discussions on Monday, amid renewed hopes for progress in the ongoing war, now entering its third year. Kyiv’s proposal for a limited truce has sparked optimism for a potential breakthrough.
Zelensky, who recently had a high-profile disagreement with former U.S. President Donald Trump, landed in Jeddah as Rubio cautiously acknowledged the potential of an aerial and naval ceasefire.
The upcoming meeting on Tuesday will mark the first official dialogue between Ukrainian representatives and Rubio’s team since tensions escalated in Washington. The previous dispute arose when Zelensky left the U.S. without finalizing a minerals agreement sought by Trump.
Following this diplomatic fallout, Washington halted military assistance to Ukraine, including intelligence-sharing and satellite imagery access, in an effort to push Kyiv toward negotiations with Moscow. Russia, under President Vladimir Putin’s directive, initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
A Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Kyiv’s proposal. “We are advocating for a ceasefire in both air and sea operations because these measures are straightforward to implement and monitor. It makes sense to begin with them,” the official stated on Monday.
Rubio signaled a willingness to consider the plan. “While this alone may not be sufficient, it represents the kind of compromise necessary to advance toward ending the conflict,” he told reporters. “A ceasefire and resolution won’t happen unless both sides are willing to make concessions.”
The U.S. diplomat also expressed a desire to address the suspension of military aid, which has placed significant strain on Ukraine’s defense strategy. “Resolving the aid pause is a priority, and tomorrow’s discussions will play a crucial role in that,” he added.
Before the formal negotiations with U.S. officials, Zelensky was expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the broader implications of the talks.
According to the Financial Times, which cited sources familiar with the discussions, Kyiv’s offer of a partial ceasefire is a strategic move aimed at persuading Washington to reinstate military aid and intelligence-sharing.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer conveyed his hopes in a call with Trump on Monday, urging that the negotiations lead to the resumption of U.S. support for Ukraine, according to a statement from Downing Street.
