US and Ukraine to meet on Russia: What’s on the agenda for Saudi talks?

Ukrainian and American officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia this week for talks aimed at negotiating an end to the war with Russia. This meeting has garnered significant attention, with all parties hoping it can provide a new opportunity to resolve the conflict.

This will be the first high-level meeting between the two countries since February 28. Previously, a meeting between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and U.S. President Trump at the White House stalled due to public disputes, a scene that played out on television and left a lasting impression.

Zelenskyy stated in an X platform post on Saturday that he plans to meet with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on Monday. He also added that Ukrainian diplomatic and military leaders will remain in Saudi Arabia to attend Tuesday's meeting with U.S. representatives.

The Ukrainian representatives expected to attend Tuesday's meeting include Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and Colonel Pavlo Palisa of the Office of the President of Ukraine. On the U.S. side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend Tuesday's meeting, having already arrived in Saudi Arabia and scheduled to meet with the Crown Prince. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, are also expected to join Rubio at the Ukraine meeting on Tuesday.

Witkoff has been involved in attempts to broker agreements with Russia and Ukraine. Last month, he represented the U.S. in peace talks with Russian officials and visited Russia, facilitating the release of imprisoned American Mark Fogel in exchange for the U.S. releasing Russian Alexander Vinnik. Witkoff was the first high-ranking U.S. official to visit the country since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Saudi Arabian talks come less than two weeks after Trump and Vance accused Zelenskyy of being a warmonger seeking to avoid a ceasefire with Russia and expressing dissatisfaction with U.S. and Trump's provision of military and other aid to Ukraine. These accusations, along with Zelenskyy's attempts to question the value of unconditional diplomacy with Russian President Putin, all occur against the backdrop of a broader shift in the U.S. approach to the Russia-Ukraine war under Trump's leadership.

Last month, representatives from Washington and Moscow held talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in the absence of Ukraine and European countries. Since then, Trump and Zelenskyy have traded accusations, mocking each other in speeches and on social media. Shortly after that heated meeting Zelenskyy held in the Oval Office, the U.S. suspended military and intelligence support to Ukraine.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement on Friday that the meeting would be held in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah. Jeddah has previously been the venue for diplomatic activities. "The Kingdom has continued its efforts over the past three years, holding numerous meetings on this matter," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said.

Timothy Ash, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, told Al Jazeera that Saudi Arabia maintains strong diplomatic relations with both Moscow and Kyiv, putting it in a favorable position to host such summits.

On March 4, Zelenskyy wrote in an X platform post that Ukraine is ready for peace talks. He also summarized the terms of a peace plan in the post, writing: "The first stage could be the release of prisoners and a sky ceasefire – a ban on missiles, long-range drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure – and an immediate sea ceasefire, if Russia does the same."

Ash stated that the kind of temporary ceasefire proposed by Zelenskyy "could be a confidence-building attempt in terms of long-range missiles and air strikes" and "could \[be] central to the Jeddah discussions." Ash added that there may be general discussions to help both sides better understand each other's positions. For Ukraine, this could mean explaining the importance of the continued flow of weapons and intelligence.

On Sunday, Trump was asked if he had considered ending the suspension of intelligence sharing. "We're almost finished. We're almost finished," he replied. He said he expects good results from Tuesday's U.S.-Ukraine talks.

From the U.S. perspective, Witkoff told reporters on Thursday that Washington is pushing for "a framework for a peace agreement and a preliminary ceasefire." On Thursday, Trump told reporters: "I think what's going to happen is Ukraine is going to want to make a deal, because I don't think they have any choice." He added: "I also think Russia wants to make a deal, because in a certain way – only I know the way, only I know – they have no choice either."

An agreement on critical minerals, which would allow the U.S. to invest in Ukraine's mineral resources, including rare earth minerals, may also be on the agenda at Tuesday's meeting. The two countries originally planned to sign the agreement during Zelenskyy's visit to the White House, but the agreement was not signed.

Zelenskyy has since stated, "Ukraine is ready to sign it \[the minerals agreement] at any time and in any convenient form. We see this agreement as a step towards greater security and reliable security guarantees, and I sincerely hope it will work effectively." Meanwhile, Trump has sounded more cautious in recent days about the prospect of a swift minerals agreement.

On Sunday, he said: "They \[Ukraine] will sign the mineral agreement, but I want them to want peace... They haven't shown it to the extent they should."