U.S. officials will meet a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia to gauge Kyiv’s willingness to make concessions for peace with Russia. The meeting, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian official Andriy Yermak, follows recent tensions between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Washington is also assessing Kyiv’s efforts to mend ties with the Trump administration after a heated February meeting between the two leaders.
Trump, who has expressed frustration over Ukraine’s depleting resources and reluctance to negotiate, has scaled back U.S. weapons shipments and intelligence sharing. He recently indicated a partial reversal of these suspensions but insists Ukraine must demonstrate a stronger commitment to peace. U.S. officials emphasize that a rigid stance on territorial borders may hinder negotiations, while European allies argue Ukraine should negotiate from a position of strength.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue advancing in eastern Ukraine, surrounding Ukrainian troops who entered Russia’s Kursk region last summer. Zelenskiy warns that a failure to stop Russia could lead to further European invasions.
A crucial minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, tied to security guarantees, remains unsigned after the February fallout between Trump and Zelenskiy. Both sides have since shown interest in finalizing the agreement, but Trump insists Ukraine must first show a real willingness to negotiate peace.
As discussions in Jeddah unfold, the Biden-era freeze on U.S.-Russia diplomacy is slowly thawing, with Trump’s administration seeking a strategic recalibration. The outcome of these talks could reshape the geopolitical landscape and determine Ukraine’s future support from Washington.