Saudi Arabia will host high-level talks on Tuesday, gathering United States and Ukrainian representatives to discuss the conflict with Russia.
The vital talks, which are to be held in Jeddah, come after a tense confrontation during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the White House on February 28, 2025, strained US-Ukraine relations.
While Jeddah might not be the most likely place for such high-level negotiations, Saudi Arabia, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been proactively positioning itself as a neutral facilitator with aspirations of brokering peace.
Over the past few years, the Kingdom (TADAWUL:4280) has gone to great lengths to enhance its position in international diplomacy, even volunteering to host direct negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday that the meetings would be held in Jeddah, a key port city on the Red Sea.
The reason for the decision to hold the meetings in Jeddah rather than Riyadh—where earlier US-Russia talks were held—is unknown. Saudi officials, however, reiterated their commitment to mediating "a lasting peace to end the Ukrainian crisis."
President Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will represent the Ukrainian delegation.
On the American side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head the delegation and hold discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In preparation for the meeting, Sybiha reported a recent discussion with Rubio as "constructive," emphasizing the need to reach a sustainable peace and end the war.
The discussions in Jeddah could prove pivotal for the three-year-long conflict, potentially shaping the trajectory of future diplomatic efforts in the region.
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