DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Following a recent disagreement at the White House, the U.S. and Ukraine are scheduled to hold discussions in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, marking a renewed diplomatic effort.
While the oil-rich kingdom might seem like an unusual choice for mending relations after the recent tension, Saudi Arabia, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been actively presenting itself as a potential location for peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. The kingdom even envisions hosting the first in-person meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Here’s a breakdown of the reasons behind this meeting and Saudi Arabia’s involvement:
Why are these talks happening?
The U.S. and Ukrainian delegations are meeting in the wake of a contentious Oval Office meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
During the meeting, Trump reportedly rebuked Zelenskyy, stating, “You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country.” Zelenskyy ultimately left the White House without securing a deal to grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. Kyiv had hoped this agreement would ensure continued U.S. military aid, which Ukraine urgently needs in its fight against Russia, which began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Where will these talks take place?
According to a statement released on Friday by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry, the talks will be held in Jeddah, a port city on the Red Sea. The reason for choosing Jeddah over Riyadh, the Saudi capital that hosted initial Russia-U.S. talks on Feb. 18, remains unclear. However, Jeddah has previously been the site of other diplomatic engagements and is home to royal residences.
The Foreign Ministry affirmed the kingdom’s commitment to pursuing “a lasting peace to end the Ukrainian crisis.”
“The kingdom has continued these efforts over the past three years by hosting many meetings on this matter,” the ministry said.
Who will attend the talks?
Zelenskyy is scheduled to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday, prior to the talks. He had previously postponed his visit to the kingdom after a trip to the neighboring United Arab Emirates, another potential location for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.
“We continue working on the relevant steps with our partners who want peace, who want it just as much as we do,” Zelenskyy stated on Friday. “There will be a lot of work here in Europe, with America in Saudi Arabia—we are preparing a meeting to accelerate peace and strengthen the foundations of security.”
Zelenskyy announced online that his delegation to Saudi Arabia will include his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the American team for the Ukrainian talks and meet with Prince Mohammed.
Sybiha also reported speaking with Rubio on Friday in advance of the talks, describing it as a “constructive call.” A brief statement from the State Department indicated that Rubio “underscored President Trump is determined to end the war as soon as possible and emphasized that all sides must take steps to secure a sustainable peace.”
Trump himself expressed optimism on Air Force One on Sunday, speaking to journalists.
“I think you’re gonna have eventually—and maybe not in the distant future—you’re gonna have some pretty good results coming out of Saudi Arabia this week,” Trump said.
Why are these talks in Saudi Arabia?
Since ascending to power, Prince Mohammed has adopted an assertive stance both domestically and internationally. His public image suffered significantly following the 2018 murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, an act believed by the United States and others to have been ordered by the prince.
However, in the past two years, Prince Mohammed has pursued a détente with Iran, hosted Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit, and become involved in negotiations regarding the conflicts in Sudan and the Gaza Strip. Riyadh has also maintained ties with Russia through the OPEC+ oil cartel, despite Western sanctions. This has reaffirmed the kingdom’s long-held perception of itself as the leader of the Sunni Muslim world and a major power in the Middle East.
Hosting Russia-U.S. talks, and potentially attracting Trump to the kingdom for his first foreign trip this term through investments and other possible meetings, further elevates Saudi Arabia’s profile as a neutral ground for critical negotiations. Saudi Arabia’s autocratic government, compliant media, and geographical distance from the war also facilitate talks in a closely monitored environment with relative privacy.
What does this mean for the war and the wider world?
Trump remains focused on achieving a peace agreement to end the war. His approach to Ukraine thus far has leaned more towards pressure than incentives, limiting their access to intelligence and weaponry. While showing a conciliatory attitude toward Putin, Trump has also recently threatened new sanctions against Russia in response to its ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities.
If Ukraine and the U.S. can reach a mutually acceptable understanding, it could expedite Trump’s administration’s push for negotiations. However, the rest of Europe remains skeptical, having been excluded from the talks. The European Union recently agreed to strengthen the continent’s defenses and allocate hundreds of billions of euros for security.
—Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
“`
