US to Evaluate Ukraine’s Peace Approach and Trump Relations in Saudi Talks
US officials plan to gauge Ukraine’s willingness to make concessions for peace with Russia during a Saudi Arabia meeting. The talks will also analyze Ukraine’s efforts to improve ties with the Trump administration. The focus will be on achieving a realistic peace strategy, with ongoing discussions about a minerals deal and ceasefire framework.
US officials are set to assess Ukraine’s willingness to make concessions in peace negotiations with Russia during a meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. This assessment will also gauge Ukraine’s desire to improve relations with the Trump administration, following a contentious meeting between President Trump and President Zelenskiy last month. The US delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and joined by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, will emphasize the need for realistic peace discussions.
The meeting’s framework is based on the understanding that expressing a desire for peace is insufficient without a willingness to compromise. Officials are wary that if Ukraine is only interested in maintaining pre-2014 borders, this could stymie progress toward a significant peace deal. Trump has expressed optimism about the negotiations, hoping they will yield tangible results in the upcoming week.
During a video address, Zelenskiy affirmed his commitment to achieving peace and emphasized that success in talks with US officials is crucial for Ukraine’s ongoing support. He remarked that peace and continued assistance are intertwined goals. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s European allies insist that any agreement should only be reached from a position of strength, arguing against hastily negotiating with an aggressor.
Zelenskiy has consistently voiced concerns about Russian aggression, asserting that Russia’s actions signal a lack of genuine interest in peace, predicting further attacks on European nations. Recent US encounters with Russian officials in Riyadh aimed to re-establish dialogue following a period of limited communication under the Biden administration.
Criticism has emerged over Trump’s recent decisions to limit military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, arguing that these moves might be counterproductive and embolden Russia in the conflict. While Russian troops maintain a slow advance in eastern Ukraine, US officials remain optimistic about the potential outcomes of negotiations in Jeddah, noting Zelenskiy’s attempts to mend ties with the American administration after previous tensions.
Discussions may include a potential ceasefire framework, with both nations expressing interest in finalizing a minerals deal that would exchange US security guarantees for resource access. Although the contract was originally intended to be signed during Zelenskiy’s Washington visit, its finalization remains pending as both sides continue to seek assurances of Ukraine’s commitment to peace before proceeding further.
The State Department and Ukrainian embassy were not immediately available for comments regarding these developments.
The upcoming meetings in Saudi Arabia aim to assess Ukraine’s readiness for concessions in peace negotiations with Russia and examine the fortifying of US-Ukraine relations. With both sides expressing interest in a minerals deal and a potential ceasefire framework, the focus remains on Ukraine’s commitment to peace. The outcome of these discussions could significantly influence the course of the ongoing conflict. U.S. officials are cautiously optimistic, hoping for a move towards a realistic peace strategy, but critics caution against actions that may prolong hostilities. The situation remains fluid as negotiations unfold.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
