JEDDAH — Senior officials of the United States and Ukraine have begun their crucial talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Tuesday to find a path towards ending the war with Russia. Described as "constructive," the talks are aimed to restore relations between the two countries and establish a decisive framework for a peace agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was joined by US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in the talks with the Ukrainian team, led by Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, and joined by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Television footage showed the US and Ukrainian delegations at the same table, with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Musaed Al-Aiban in the middle. "The meeting with the US team has begun very constructively," said Andriy Yermak. In a post on Telegram, accompanied by photos of the meeting, Yermak said: "We are working to establish a just and sustainable peace three years after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine." Following his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that "Ukraine's position in these talks will be entirely constructive." Zelenskyy arrived in Jeddah on Monday evening and met with the Crown Prince in preparation for his team's talks with U.S. officials on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelenskyy described the meeting with the Crown Prince as "an outstanding one." He praised the Crown Prince's efforts to enhance the chances of achieving a real peace. "Saudi Arabia provides a diplomatic platform of great importance, and we appreciate it." Zelenskyy said that he discussed with the Crown Prince all the main issues on the agenda, both bilaterally and in cooperation with other partners. "We had a detailed discussion with the Crown Prince about the steps and conditions that can lead to ending the war and ensuring a lasting and reliable peace. I especially emphasized the issue of releasing prisoners and returning children, which can become one of the key steps to build confidence in diplomatic efforts," he added. Meanwhile, Abbas Dahouk, former senior military advisor to U.S. Department of State, believes that these meetings can "play a crucial role in restoring confidence and strengthening diplomatic relations between the United States and Ukraine." Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said that these high-level discussions provide an opportunity to clarify ambiguities, unify strategic priorities, and highlight common goals in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. "However, the success of the talks will depend on concrete political commitments, whether the two sides can address frustrations over delays in military aid and intelligence sharing, or political shifts in Washington. A real diplomatic breakthrough depends on Russia's willingness to negotiate the return of occupied territory, as well as Ukraine's strategic goals for its broader relationship with Europe and NATO," Dahuk said. Washington, Ukraine's main ally before Trump's inauguration in January, has upended its policy on the conflict to pursue a rapid end to the fighting. Trump has engaged directly with Moscow, stopped military assistance to Kyiv and paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which Russian troops invaded at scale in 2022. A stunning White House clash last month between Trump and Zelenskyy deeply soured relations. That left in limbo a minerals deal that Trump framed as key to continued US support and compensation for some $65 billion in US military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded three years ago. Under intense US pressure, Zelenskyy has been at pains to show that Kyiv is committed to ending the war, despite failing to win US security guarantees in the minerals accord that Kyiv sees as vital for any peace deal. On February 19, Riyadh became the scene of high-level diplomacy, hosting US-Russian talks between the two countries' foreign ministers, the first such meeting since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022. The talks resulted in a significant diplomatic breakthrough, with both sides agreeing to return staff from their diplomatic missions and boost economic cooperation, describing the discussions as "fruitful" and "an important step forward."
