Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Meets Saudi Crown Prince Ahead of Key U.S. Talks to End War with Russia”
(Adapted from a Reuters report)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as part of efforts to find a way to end the war with Russia. This comes just a day before important talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials, which Washington hopes will bring major progress toward peace.
According to Reuters, the U.S., once Ukraine’s strongest ally, has changed its approach to the conflict. The Biden administration is now focused on quickly ending the war, even if it means talking directly with Russia and reducing military aid to Ukraine. This shift has left Kyiv in a tough spot, especially after a tense meeting last month between Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Saudi Arabia has been playing a key role in mediating the conflict, helping with prisoner swaps and hosting talks between Russia and the U.S. Zelenskiy’s meeting with the Saudi crown prince is seen as a step toward building trust and finding solutions.
On Tuesday, U.S. and Ukrainian officials will hold their first formal talks since the failed White House meeting. Reuters reports that Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is optimistic about the discussions. He told Fox News, “We’re going over there with an expectation that we’re going to make substantial progress.”
One major topic in the talks is a potential deal on Ukrainian minerals, which could help secure continued U.S. support for Kyiv. Witkoff hopes Zelenskiy might return to the U.S. soon to sign the agreement. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been more cautious, saying there are still details to work out and that peace will require compromises from both sides.
Zelenskiy has been under pressure to show that Ukraine is serious about ending the war, even without the security guarantees it once hoped for from the U.S. He has proposed a temporary truce and a prisoner exchange to test Russia’s willingness to negotiate. However, Moscow has rejected the idea of a ceasefire, calling it a trick to buy time for Ukraine.
Reuters notes that Ukraine’s position on the battlefield is getting harder. Russian forces are advancing in key areas, and Kyiv is urging its European allies to step up their support. Despite the challenges, Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, insists that Ukrainian troops are not at risk of being surrounded by Russian forces.
The upcoming talks are seen as a chance to lay the groundwork for a peace agreement and a possible ceasefire. Zelenskiy has said that “realistic proposals are on the table” and that the key is to act quickly.
As the war drags on, the stakes are high for both sides. Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
In the past week alone, Russian forces have launched over 1,200 bombs, 870 drones, and 80 missiles at Ukraine, according to Zelenskiy.
The world is watching closely to see if these talks can bring an end to the conflict. As Reuters highlights, the outcome will depend on whether both Ukraine and Russia are willing to make tough compromises for peace.
Credit: Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/zelenskiy-heads-saudi-arabia-ahead-crunch-us-talks-2025-03-10