Washington/Riyadh: In a significant diplomatic effort, the United States and Ukraine will hold high-level talks in Saudi Arabia next week to discuss a potential peace agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday that he would visit Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman before his team engages in discussions with US officials.
Zelensky’s Visit to Saudi Arabia
Zelensky confirmed his upcoming visit, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to peace.
“Next week, on Monday, my visit to Saudi Arabia is planned to meet the crown prince. After that, my team will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace,” he said.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also confirmed the planned meeting in Saudi Arabia. According to Witkoff, discussions with Kyiv are ongoing regarding a potential peace framework and an initial ceasefire agreement.
US Delegation to Join Talks in Riyadh
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials are expected to arrive in Riyadh on Tuesday to participate in the discussions. Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelensky, will also be part of the negotiations, according to Reuters.
Witkoff noted that President Trump was pleased with Zelensky’s recent letter following last week’s tense meeting at the White House.
“He felt that Zelensky’s letter was a very positive first step. There was an apology, an acknowledgment of the United States’ contributions to Ukraine, and a sense of gratitude,” Witkoff said.
Trump Confirms Saudi Visit
Trump confirmed that he plans to visit Saudi Arabia in the near future but did not specify an exact date. However, he linked the visit to a major economic deal.
“I’m going to Saudi Arabia. I said, I’ll go if you pay a trillion dollars—$1 trillion to American companies over four years. They’ve agreed to do that, so I’m going,” Trump stated, hinting at a major investment agreement with the Kingdom.
Path to Peace?
The upcoming talks mark a crucial step in diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. While tensions remain high, both US and Ukrainian officials are signaling a willingness to engage in discussions aimed at securing peace. Saudi Arabia’s involvement as a mediator could play a key role in shaping the outcome of these negotiations.
