Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived on March 10, 2025, for significant diplomatic talks with U.S. officials, set to take place the following day on March 11, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This meeting marks the first official engagement between the two countries after the tense exchange between Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump on February 28, 2025. Notably absent from the negotiations will be Zelensky himself, who has dedicated the representation of Ukraine to high-ranking officials, including Andriy Ermak, head of the Office of the President, his deputy Pavel Palisa, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
According to reports from both CNN and The Financial Times, U.S. officials anticipate substantial progress during these talks, aiming to establish clearer terms for peace with Russia. They are hoping to facilitate discussions around potential agreements on resource management, including rare earth metals, which have come to play a significant role amid the conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is among the American delegation, along with special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who has emphasized the importance of forming a foundation for peace and the prospects of initiating a ceasefire. Witkoff stated prior to the negotiations, "we want to develop the basis for peaceful agreement and the beginning of ceasefire." During this week’s discussions, the expectation includes potentially reviving intelligence sharing with Kyiv, which had previously been stalled.
Ukrainian officials aim to propose ceasefires both in the air and at sea, with one unnamed source stating to AFP, "We really have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and at sea, because these are options easy to implement and control, and you can start with them." This approach indicates Ukraine's desire to ease hostilities on multiple fronts and to gather support from the U.S. to curb the aggression from Russia, as military activities escalate on the battlefield.
A key point of concern for Ukraine is the continued exchange of intelligence, which they believe is pivotal for maintaining any strategic advantage against Russia. An unnamed Ukrainian official expressed fear over the impact of paused U.S. intelligence sharing, warning, "If the pause drags on, it will give the Russians significant advantage." Just days before the negotiations, Trump indicated the U.S. would likely resume intelligence aiding efforts, stating they were ready to act immediately.
The discussions will also explore the possibility of imposing limits on military actions, including restrictions on drone strikes and the usage of long-range missiles, aiming to avert escalatory cycles of violence. Another official noted, "We want to see if the Ukrainians are interested not just in peace, but in realistic peace. If they say they want peace, they cannot also refuse to compromise.”
Zelensky's minimum goal for these talks is to see the resumption of American arms supplies, which were previously halted following the fallout from the earlier February meeting. Despite this lapse, metrics from the United States indicate support levels for Ukraine have remained high. Reports mention over 90% of previously allocated U.S. weapons have already been delivered prior to this situation. The current need for military supplies aligns with Zelensky’s push for acknowledgment of Ukrainian resources like rare earth metals, which could lead to future cooperative agreements with the U.S.
The meeting's political significance is amplified by its location, as Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a neutral ground, supporting various diplomatic efforts during this tumultuous period. The fact U.S.-Russia talks were earlier conducted there highlights the kingdom's role as mediator, which Trump has cited as important for framing the U.S. position not merely as another participant but as facilitator between the conflicting parties.
Following Zelensky's arrival, he engaged with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the initial networking needed to strengthen ties and facilitate dialogue. This Saudi meeting is set to demonstrate the kingdom's continued commitment to mediation efforts throughout the crisis, indicating they perhaps seek to expand their diplomatic stature on the global stage.
Though negotiations begin at times when skepticism about outcomes looms, both sides have expressed optimism about potential advancements. Trump noted, "I believe we will achieve significant progress this week,” indicating hopefulness about the direction of these discussions. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to downplay expectations, with their spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, rejecting claims of Russian participation alongside Ukrainian discussions, reiteratively stating the significance lies with U.S. expectations moving forward.
Should successful agreements emerge from this Jeddah meeting, the ramifications will extend beyond immediate military and intelligence discourse, laying groundwork for potential long-term solutions to re-establish peace and stability within the wider region affected by the war. If dialogues falter, the consequences will invariably skew the military balance not only for Ukraine but historically reshape U.S.-Russia relations.