US and Ukraine Set to Engage in Peace Negotiations in Saudi Arabia Next Week, Zelensky Confirms
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Synopsis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, aiming to engage in diplomatic negotiations with US officials next week. The discussions come amid renewed efforts for a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, following recent tensions in US-Ukrainian relations.
Key Takeaways
- Ukrainian President Zelensky will meet Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Saudi Arabia.
- US officials and Ukrainian representatives are set to discuss a peace deal.
- Trump's envoy indicated positive developments in US-Ukrainian relations.
- EU leaders agreed to increase military spending amid concerns over Russia.
- Zelensky expressed gratitude for EU support amid ongoing negotiations.
Kyiv, March 7 (NationPress) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that he will be heading to Saudi Arabia on Monday for discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman prior to diplomatic talks with US officials later in the week.
"Next week, on Monday, my trip to Saudi Arabia is scheduled for a meeting with the Crown Prince. Following this, my team will remain in Saudi Arabia to collaborate with our American allies. Ukraine is deeply committed to achieving peace," Zelensky stated.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, indicated earlier on Thursday that a meeting with Ukrainian representatives was in the works for next week in Saudi Arabia. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with Kyiv regarding a peace agreement framework and a preliminary ceasefire.
Witkoff remarked that Trump was encouraged by Zelensky's correspondence following last Friday's contentious meeting in the White House.
"He felt that Zelensky's letter was a very positive initial step. There was an apology. There was recognition of the significant support the United States has extended to Ukraine and a sense of appreciation," he noted.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials are anticipated to depart for Riyadh on Tuesday to participate in the meeting, which will also include Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to President Zelensky, according to reports.
Donald Trump mentioned his intention to visit the Kingdom within the next month and a half but did not specify a date.
"I'm heading to Saudi Arabia. I said I would go if they invest a trillion dollars, spread over four years, in American companies, and they have agreed, so I will be going there," Trump stated, hinting at a significant investment agreement with Saudi Arabia.
The upcoming meeting indicates a thawing of relations between the US and Ukraine following the recent tensions in the Oval Office.
In the aftermath of the dispute, the US halted military assistance to Ukraine and ceased intelligence sharing with its armed forces.
This announcement coincided with Zelensky's emergency meeting with European Union leaders in Brussels concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict and overall security in Europe.
The European Union leaders expressed support for new defense budget plans aimed at unlocking billions of euros for the continent's security, especially after the Trump administration indicated that Europe must take more responsibility for its own defense in the future.
The 27 leaders agreed to a proposal to relax budget restrictions, allowing willing EU nations to raise their military expenditures.
Furthermore, they urged the European Commission to investigate new methods to enable significant defense spending at the national level across all Member States," the statement read.
The EU's executive branch estimates that this could potentially release around €650 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in funding.
Several Eastern European leaders at the summit also endorsed French President Emmanuel Macron's initiative to share his country's nuclear capabilities as a deterrent against attacks.
However, this proposal was dismissed by the Russian government as being "extremely confrontational".
On Thursday, the EU's 27 leaders approved a strategy developed by the European Commission aimed at mobilizing €800 billion to "rearm Europe" in response to the perceived threats from Russia.
During the EU summit, Zelensky informed leaders that the Ukrainian and American negotiators had "resumed their efforts," expressing hope for a productive meeting in the coming week. He expressed his gratitude to the EU leaders for their continued support for Kyiv, particularly as America's outreach to Russia raised concerns that Ukraine might be pressured into an unfavorable agreement.
"We are extremely grateful that we are not alone," the Ukrainian leader noted.
Thursday's summit followed a week after a contentious exchange between Trump and Zelensky in the White House, which resulted in the US suspending military aid and intelligence sharing crucial to Kyiv's resistance against Russia's invasion.
