The meeting comes at a critical time for Ukraine, which continues to battle Russian forces and is seeking long-term security assurances and military support from the US. The talks will also focus on a potential agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals—an issue that remains unresolved after Zelenskyy’s abrupt departure from Washington without signing a deal.
Why are these talks taking place?
During Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House on February 28, a brief but heated argument erupted between him, President Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance in front of journalists. At one point, Trump bluntly told Zelenskyy, “You’re gambling with World War III, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country.”
The dispute reportedly centred around Ukraine’s request for continued US military aid, which Trump has linked to Kyiv’s willingness to negotiate with Russia. The Ukrainian president left Washington without securing an agreement on critical minerals, which Ukraine had hoped would guarantee further US support.
The Saudi-hosted meeting in Jeddah is now being viewed as an opportunity to reset relations and explore possible solutions.
Why is Saudi Arabia hosting the talks?
Saudi Arabia has increasingly positioned itself as a neutral mediator in international conflicts under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In recent years, Riyadh has brokered discussions on the wars in Sudan and Gaza, hosted Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit, and maintained diplomatic ties with both the US and Russia through the OPEC+ alliance.
Hosting US-Ukraine talks allows Saudi Arabia to further solidify its role as a global diplomatic player while keeping open the possibility of future negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Who will attend?
Zelenskyy is scheduled to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday, accompanied by key members of his administration, including chief of staff Andriy Yermak, foreign minister Andriy Sybiha, and defence minister Rustem Umerov.
The US delegation will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is expected to hold direct talks with Prince Mohammed as well. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Sybiha described his recent discussions with Rubio as a “constructive call” and emphasised Ukraine’s commitment to securing a lasting peace.
A brief statement from the US State Department highlighted that Rubio had stressed “President Trump is determined to end the war as soon as possible and emphasised that all sides must take steps to secure a sustainable peace.”
Trump himself appeared optimistic about the upcoming talks, telling reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday: “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.”
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed speculation about Moscow’s stance on the talks, saying on Monday: “It doesn’t matter what we’re expecting. It matters what the United States is expecting.”
What’s at stake?
For Ukraine, the talks represent a critical opportunity to secure continued US military aid and broader security guarantees. While Trump has signalled interest in reaching a peace deal, his administration has also limited Ukraine’s access to intelligence and advanced weaponry, prioritising diplomatic negotiations over further military escalation.
Trump has remained ambiguous about his long-term strategy towards Russia. While maintaining a conciliatory stance towards President Vladimir Putin, he has also threatened new sanctions against Moscow in response to continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Parallel security talks in Paris
As US-Ukraine negotiations unfold in Saudi Arabia, another crucial meeting will be taking place in Paris, where military officials from over 30 nations will discuss plans for an international security force to protect Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
Led by France and the UK, the initiative aims to “dissuade Russia from launching another offensive” and ensure Ukraine’s long-term stability. The broad international participation, including remote attendees from Asia and Oceania, signals growing global concern over the future of the conflict.
As per Reuters, a French military official, speaking anonymously, described the Paris talks as an effort to build a coalition of nations “able and willing” to safeguard Ukraine. However, the details of the proposed security force remain undisclosed.
Ukraine-US minerals deal
One of the key issues on the agenda in Jeddah will be a potential agreement allowing the US access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, crucial for high-tech industries and defence manufacturing.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism ahead of the talks, telling Fox News: “I think that we’re going over there with an expectation that we’re going to make substantial progress.”
When asked whether Zelenskyy would return to the US this week to sign a minerals deal, Witkoff said: “I am really hopeful. All the signs are very, very positive.”
Security protocols, territorial disputes, and intelligence-sharing arrangements will also be key discussion points, Witkoff noted. However, he emphasised that “the US never shut off intelligence for anything defensive that Ukrainians needed.”
What comes next?
The outcome of the Jeddah talks will likely shape the trajectory of US-Ukraine relations and could influence future negotiations with Russia. While Trump appears eager to broker a deal, European leaders remain wary, fearing that the US is sidelining them in the decision-making process.
Last week, the European Union announced plans to boost defence spending and allocate hundreds of billions of euros for security, underscoring concerns over the potential consequences of a US-Russia peace deal that does not include European input.
ALSO READ: Russian forces walked inside a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian troops from the rear in Kursk
