KYIV, March 7: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, ahead of diplomatic-level talks with US officials later in the week. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is highly interested in peace and outlined the schedule for discussions, stating that after his meeting with the Crown Prince, his team will stay in Saudi Arabia to continue negotiations with US representatives.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed earlier on Thursday that a meeting with Ukrainian officials was planned for next week in Saudi Arabia. Witkoff mentioned that discussions were underway with Kyiv for a peace agreement framework and an initial ceasefire. He also noted that Trump was pleased by a letter from Zelensky following a tense meeting at the White House last Friday, which included an apology and an acknowledgment of the United States’ support for Ukraine.
The upcoming talks are expected to include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with other officials, who will depart for Riyadh on Tuesday to participate in the meeting. Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Zelensky, is also expected to attend. Donald Trump has indicated he will visit Saudi Arabia in the coming month, although he did not provide a specific date. Trump remarked that he would go to Saudi Arabia only if they agreed to a trillion-dollar investment deal over four years with American companies, which he claimed they had agreed to.
The announcement of these peace talks follows a period of strained relations between the US and Ukraine, after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelensky last week at the White House, which resulted in the US cutting off military aid to Ukraine and halting intelligence sharing with Ukrainian forces. However, the upcoming talks signal a potential warming of relations between the two countries.
This development comes as Zelensky attended an emergency summit with European Union leaders in Brussels, where they backed new defense spending plans aimed at bolstering Europe’s security. The EU leaders authorized plans to free up billions of euros for defense spending, with the aim of reducing Europe’s reliance on the US. They also urged the European Commission to explore new ways to facilitate significant defense spending at the national level in all EU member states.
During the EU summit, Zelensky expressed gratitude to European leaders for their continued support, particularly in light of the shifting dynamics with the US. He thanked the EU for standing by Kyiv, noting that while the US has resumed work on negotiations with Ukraine, there were concerns about potential unfavorable deals due to outreach efforts with Russia.
The summit also saw discussions on France’s proposal to share its nuclear deterrent with other EU nations, which was met with mixed reactions. While some Eastern European leaders welcomed the proposal, Russia dismissed it as “extremely confrontational.” Meanwhile, the EU greenlit a plan to mobilize €800 billion for rearming Europe in response to Russia’s perceived threat.
Zelensky’s statement in Brussels underscored the importance of Ukraine’s ongoing negotiations with both the US and Europe. The Ukrainian leader reiterated that Kyiv is not alone in its struggle, with continued backing from its international allies despite recent tensions with the US.
