Zelenskiy heads to Saudi Arabia as US talks on Ukraine's peace efforts loom

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has travelled to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of high-stakes talks with US officials on ending the war with Russia. This diplomatic mission comes at a critical time for Ukraine, as its battlefield situation grows increasingly dire. The United States, once the primary ally of Ukraine, has shifted its approach by seeking direct engagement with Moscow and reducing military support to Kyiv. Zelenskiy’s visit to Saudi Arabia marks another step in the kingdom’s ongoing efforts to mediate in the conflict. Saudi Arabia has previously played a role in facilitating prisoner exchanges and hosting talks between Russia and the US, most recently in February 2025. Zelenskiy is expected to discuss peace efforts with Mohammed bin Salman, particularly focusing on finding common ground for a potential truce. On Tuesday, US and Ukrainian officials will meet for the first time since a contentious encounter in the Oval Office between Zelenskiy and US President Donald Trump. These talks are expected to centre on a minerals deal, as well as strategies to bring an end to the war. Zelenskiy, under intense pressure from Trump to achieve a rapid resolution to the conflict, has struggled to secure the security guarantees Kyiv needs for a sustainable peace deal. In an effort to show unity with the US, Zelenskiy announced that he would not personally attend the talks but would send a delegation including his chief of staff, foreign and defence ministers, and top military officials. In a post on social media, Zelenskiy emphasised that Ukraine remains committed to constructive dialogue, with realistic proposals on the table. He also stressed the importance of moving quickly and effectively to resolve the crisis. Steve Witkoff, a special envoy to Trump, has stated that the goal of the talks is to establish a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire. Zelenskiy has called for a truce in both the air and at sea, as well as a prisoner exchange, viewing these as potential indicators of Russia's commitment to peace. However, Moscow has already rejected the idea of a temporary truce, seeing it as a tactic to buy time for Ukraine, which is facing a precarious military position. Russia has been intensifying its military pressure, with continued missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the strategically important Kursk region, which Russian forces are on the brink of encircling. In addition to the diplomatic efforts, Zelenskiy has signalled Ukraine's readiness to sign a minerals deal with the US. This deal would see a joint fund created from the sale of Ukrainian minerals, an agreement that Washington sees as vital to maintaining US support. As Zelenskiy faces mounting pressure on the battlefield and diplomatic front, he has called on his European allies to increase support, as the conflict shows no sign of ending soon. The war, now in its third year, has left Russia in control of significant portions of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. With both sides locked in a stalemate, Zelenskiy’s mission to Saudi Arabia and subsequent talks with US officials will be pivotal in determining the next phase of the conflict.

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