A senior Ukrainian politician has emphasized the importance of a direct conversation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky as crucial discussions are set to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of Ukraine’s foreign affairs committee, expressed his thoughts during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, stating, “I think the best solution is just to have a face-to-face talk between our president and Mr. Trump. It will help to clear the air and to understand what's going on.”
It is important to note that neither Trump nor Zelensky will participate formally in the upcoming negotiations, which are scheduled to start tomorrow. Merezhko remains “sceptical” about achieving peace in the short term but believes that the discussions this week represent a positive step towards rebuilding relations with the United States amidst the ongoing war. He stated, “Our goal at present is to mend relations, to improve relations with the United States, and to persuade our American allies to continue to supply us with weaponry and intelligence information.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is anticipated to arrive in Saudi Arabia ahead of the talks with Ukrainian officials, has consistently advocated for a swift resolution to the Ukraine war. Rubio commented, “We do want to see that conflict end, and it’s going to require some very difficult choices.” In previous statements, he characterized the notion that Ukrainian forces could entirely defeat the Russian military as “hyperbole.” Notably, he had voted against a $6 billion military aid package for Ukraine last year, highlighting the delicate balance of support and strategy in the ongoing conflict.
As the dialogues unfold, key players will be present from both Ukraine and the United States. Ukrainian President Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shortly. The delegations set to meet on Tuesday will not include Trump or Zelensky but will feature essential figures such as Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Ukraine's national security adviser, and the foreign and defense ministers. For the US, Secretary of State Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz will represent American interests.
These meetings aim to reestablish a collaborative framework for ending the Ukraine war. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism that these discussions would help realign efforts towards peace. Zelensky has indicated that his team is committed to working closely with American partners to achieve their goals.
Zelensky's meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince was originally planned for last month but was postponed following US-Russia talks that occurred in February, which Ukraine was not part of. This visit comes ten days after a contentious encounter at the White House between Zelensky and Trump, which left hopes for a peace agreement seemingly diminished. However, recent diplomatic efforts have shown signs of improving relations, as US officials prepare to engage with their Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the optimism surrounding the upcoming discussions, significant challenges remain. The US continues to impose a pause on sharing military aid and intelligence with Ukraine, complicating the path towards a potential agreement. Should a deal be reached, the next hurdle will be to secure the support of Vladimir Putin, with Trump likely hoping that recent threats of additional sanctions on Russia may influence the situation.
As Zelensky, Rubio, and Waltz arrive in Saudi Arabia, the global community will be watching closely for developments in this critical phase of the Ukraine conflict. Stay tuned for ongoing updates on this evolving story.
