Zelenskyy Meets Saudi Crown Prince Ahead of Crucial U.S. Summit

Zelenskyy Meets Saudi Crown Prince Ahead of Crucial U.S. Summit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of a crucial Ukraine-U.S. summit in Jeddah. While Zelenskyy won’t attend the summit, his team will engage with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to restore military aid and intelligence-sharing, strained after Zelenskyy’s tense Oval Office meeting with Trump and VP JD Vance. The U.S. seeks clarity on Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate peace with Russia, while European allies grow concerned about being sidelined. The outcome of these talks could determine the future of U.S. support for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy’s Saudi Visit and U.S. Talks: Quick Looks

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Saudi Arabia, set to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
• Talks come ahead of a critical Ukraine-U.S. summit in Jeddah, where Kyiv’s team will engage with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• Goal: Repair strained U.S.-Ukraine relations after Zelenskyy’s tense Oval Office meeting with Trump and VP JD Vance on Feb. 28.
• U.S. military aid and intelligence-sharing on the line, as the Trump administration pushes for potential peace negotiations with Russia.
• Rubio says the U.S. is assessing Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate, while Europe remains skeptical and seeks alternative security measures.
• White House insists defensive intelligence-sharing with Ukraine continues, but offensive intelligence remains paused.

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Deep Look: Zelenskyy Meets Saudi Crown Prince as Ukraine Seeks U.S. Support

Zelenskyy’s Diplomatic Mission in Jeddah

On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he is set to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His visit precedes a crucial Ukraine-U.S. summit on Tuesday, where Kyiv’s top officials will attempt to restore military and intelligence cooperation with Washington.

The stakes are high, as Ukraine relies on U.S. support to continue resisting Russia’s invasion. However, relations have been tense since Zelenskyy’s heated Oval Office exchange with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on Feb. 28.

Zelenskyy will not attend the summit in person, but his team—including Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov—will lead discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

U.S. Seeks Clarity on Ukraine’s Willingness for Peace Talks

Speaking aboard his plane to Jeddah, Rubio emphasized that Washington wants to gauge Ukraine’s openness to peace negotiations with Russia.

“What we want to know is, are they interested in entering some sort of peace conversation?” Rubio stated.

• The U.S. seeks clarity on what concessions Ukraine might consider to end the war.
• Rubio noted that Ukraine has suffered greatly, making negotiations difficult but necessary.
• While no conditions have been set, the U.S. wants to compare Kyiv’s stance with Moscow’s demands to evaluate the gap between both sides.

The outcome of these talks could influence Trump’s administration’s next steps and shape the future of U.S. aid to Ukraine.

Tensions Over U.S. Military Aid and Intelligence Sharing

Since Trump’s return to office, U.S. support for Ukraine has become more conditional, particularly in intelligence-sharing.

• Defensive intelligence-sharing continues, ensuring Ukraine can protect itself.
• Offensive intelligence-sharing remains paused, limiting Kyiv’s ability to plan strategic counteroffensives.
• A U.S. official suggested progress could be made in reinstating intelligence-sharing if Tuesday’s discussions go well.

Meanwhile, European allies remain skeptical, feeling sidelined from the discussions and moving to boost their own defense spending.

“We never shut off intelligence for anything defensive that the Ukrainians need,” said White House special envoy Steve Witkoff.

However, Ukraine is pushing for full intelligence cooperation, a request that may hinge on Trump’s approval of Kyiv’s diplomatic approach.

What’s Next?

The Jeddah talks mark a pivotal moment for Ukraine-U.S. relations. If Kyiv aligns with Washington’s diplomatic vision, it could secure renewed U.S. support. However, if Trump remains unconvinced, Ukraine may face further restrictions on military aid and intelligence-sharing.

With peace talks and war strategy hanging in the balance, the outcome of these discussions will shape Ukraine’s next steps in its fight against Russia.

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