Senior officials from Ukraine and the United States convened on Tuesday, March 11 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to initiate discussions aimed at ending Moscow’s three-year-long war against Kyiv.
The high-level talks began just hours after Russia intercepted more than 300 Ukrainian drones in what became Ukraine’s largest aerial assault since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
The diplomatic negotiations follow President Donald Trump’s decision last week to suspend U.S. military aid to Ukraine, alongside curtailing intelligence-sharing efforts. The move was seen as a strategic attempt to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into negotiations to bring an end to the prolonged war.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit Moscow later this week, with a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the agenda. However, a source familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly, noted that the scheduling remains subject to change.
During the closed-door meetings at a luxury hotel in Jeddah, the press was briefly granted access to observe the initial exchanges. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, leading the American delegation, acknowledged the media with a smile and a thumbs-up when asked about his expectations for the discussions. “Good,” he responded.
In contrast, Ukrainian officials, including the country’s top diplomat and defense chief, maintained stoic expressions as the meeting commenced. Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak emphasized the significance of “achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.” He underscored the need for security guarantees to prevent future Russian invasions.
This meeting marks the first direct engagement between the two sides since last month’s contentious Oval Office exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Also present at the discussions was Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, with the flags of the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine displayed prominently in the background.
As discussions unfolded, there was no immediate response from Ukrainian or U.S. officials regarding Ukraine’s massive drone attack, which targeted ten Russian regions. The assault resulted in three fatalities and left 18 people injured, including three children.
Meanwhile, Russia continued its offensive, launching 126 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukrainian targets. The Ukrainian air force reported that Moscow remains relentless in its attacks on civilian areas.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the United States would inform Russia of the outcomes of the Jeddah talks, calling it “normal practice.”
Talks Seek to Repair US-Ukraine Relations
For Ukraine, the Jeddah meeting serves as a critical opportunity to mend strained ties with the Trump administration following the heated February 28 encounter at the White House. Securing the resumption of U.S. military aid and intelligence-sharing remains a top priority for Kyiv. According to American officials, productive discussions could lead to a swift reversal of the aid suspension.
Ukrainian negotiators have indicated they will propose a ceasefire agreement focused on the Black Sea, aiming to ensure safer maritime trade routes. Additional topics on the agenda include halting long-range missile strikes on civilians and facilitating a prisoner exchange.
Two senior Ukrainian officials revealed that Kyiv is also prepared to finalize an agreement granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals — a deal that aligns with Trump’s strategic interests.
Speaking en route to Jeddah, Rubio clarified that the U.S. delegation would not impose specific conditions for resolving the conflict. Instead, he emphasized a listening approach.
“I’m not going to set any conditions on what they have to or need to do. I think we want to listen to see how far they’re willing to go and then compare that to what the Russians want and see how far apart we truly are.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio
While the prospect of a rare earth minerals agreement remains open, Rubio stressed that it was not a prerequisite for continued discussions with Ukraine or Russia.
With tensions running high and military escalations continuing on both sides, the Jeddah talks are seen as a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to bring about a resolution to the conflict.
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