U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah to assess Ukraine’s willingness for realistic peace negotiations. The talks will focus on Ukraine’s position amid ongoing tensions with Russia, as well as the potential signing of a minerals deal requiring U.S. security commitments. Trump has expressed concerns over Ukraine’s need for a more decisive approach to peace discussions.
On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Jeddah for bilateral discussions with Ukrainian officials, led by Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to President Zelenskiy. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will accompany him. A major focus of these talks will be to evaluate Ukraine’s commitment to a realistic peace process amidst ongoing tensions with Russia.
U.S. officials indicated that Ukraine’s willingness to compromise will be crucial in determining the potential for peace. One official emphasized the necessity for Ukraine’s stance to move beyond simply favoring peace without the willingness to negotiate. The discussion will explore whether Ukraine is inclined to consider alternatives other than returning to pre-2014 borders.
Regarding the ongoing military situation, Ukrainian allies believe that a sustainable agreement with Russia can only be achieved if Ukraine approaches the negotiations from a position of strength. President Zelenskiy has argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions indicate he is not genuinely interested in peace and may pose threats to other European nations if the conflict does not conclude decisively.
In preceding months, U.S. officials had engaged in discussions with Russian representatives in Riyadh, seeking to mend relations following extensive diplomatic stagnation under the previous administration. Meanwhile, Trump has aired frustrations concerning Ukraine’s military capacity, suggesting a need for Kyiv to urgently negotiate a settlement with Russia.
The U.S. administration has recently restricted weapons shipments and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, contending that Kyiv has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to pursuing peace. Trump remarked that the U.S. had nearly lifted the suspension of intelligence support that had been established earlier.
As Russian troops continue to gain ground in eastern Ukraine, American critics of Trump argue that his recent moves may inadvertently bolster Russia’s negotiating power and hinder prospects for a reasonable peace agreement. The slow advancement of Russian forces is exacerbated by the dwindling resources faced by Ukrainian military personnel.
Earlier in the week, Brian Hughes, a National Security Council spokesperson, noted that Zelenskiy is making strides to repair relations with the U.S. following a fraught meeting with Trump. Hughes underscored the expectation that the upcoming talks could yield progress toward concluding the ongoing conflict.
During the discussions in Saudi Arabia, Witkoff expressed his hopes to establish a framework for a ceasefire and peace agreement. The fate of a minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine will also be a focus, as this agreement involves a U.S. security guarantee for access to strategic Ukrainian mineral resources. Although both parties have indicated a willingness to finalize this deal, formal signing has yet to occur.
Trump has suggested that Ukraine’s implementation of the minerals deal is contingent upon demonstrating a commitment to peace, asserting that Ukraine has not adequately proven this disposition to date. The State Department and the Ukrainian embassy did not immediately provide comments on these developments.
The upcoming meeting in Jeddah symbolizes a critical moment for evaluating potential resolutions to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. U.S. officials will gauge Ukraine’s willingness to engage in realistic peace negotiations while emphasizing the necessity of strength in these discussions. The outcomes of these talks could ultimately influence not only diplomatic relations but also the trajectory of military tensions and economic partnerships moving forward.
Original Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
