High-level talks between delegations fromUkraine and the United States on how to end the war between Kiev and Moscow that has been going on for three years began in Saudi Arabia this Tuesday.
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In the Saudi city of Jeddah, on the shores of the Red Sea, reporters were briefly allowed into the room where the high-level Ukrainian delegation met with the US Secretary of State to discuss the end of the largest conflict in Europe since World War II.
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The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, smiled at the cameras. When asked about his expectations for the meeting, he raised his thumb and replied, “Good.”
On the other side of the table, the Ukrainian representatives, including the head of diplomacy and defense, sat down without showing any expression at the beginning of the meeting at a luxury hotel.
The Ukrainian presidential advisor, Andriy Yermak, who was also participating in the talks, told reporters that the most important thing was “how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine”. He stated that security guarantees were important to prevent Russia from invading it again in the future.
The Saudi Foreign Minister was present at the talks, while the flags of the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine were displayed in the background of the room. The attendees did not respond to the press questions.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the United States will inform Russia about the results of the talks in Jeddah, which he described as “normal practice.”
Opportunity to improve the relationship between the United States and Kiev
The conversations reflect a new diplomatic effort following an unprecedented discussion during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House on February 28.
Ukraine urgently needs to persuade Washington to end the suspension of its military aid and intelligence exchange following the incident in the Oval Office. US officials have said that positive talks in Jeddah could mean that the suspension may be brief.
Ukrainian representatives told The Associated Press on Monday that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea, which would allow for safer maritime transport, as well as addressing long-range missile attacks that have impacted the civilian population in Ukraine and the release of prisoners.
The two senior Ukrainian officials stated that Kiev would be ready to sign an agreement with Washington regarding access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, something that President Donald Trump is eager to achieve.
On the plane to Jeddah, Rubio indicated that the US delegation would not propose specific measures to ensure the end of the conflict, but rather wanted to hear what Ukraine would be willing to consider.
“I am not going to establish any conditions on what they have to do or need to do,” Rubio told the journalists accompanying him. “I think we want to listen to see how far they are willing to go and then compare it with what the Russians want and see how far apart we really are.”
Rubio said that the agreement on rare earths and critical minerals could be signed during the meeting, but stressed that it was not a prerequisite for the United States to move forward in discussions with Kiev or Moscow.
He pointed out that it might actually make more sense to take some time to negotiate the specific details of the agreement, which is currently a broad memorandum of understanding that leaves out many specific details.
What are the conditions in Russia?
The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said that it is ready for a ceasefire on the condition that Ukraine abandons its attempt to join NATO and recognizes the regions occupied by Moscow as Russian.
The Moscow forces have captured almost a fifth of the neighboring country since the war began.
The Russian forces have maintained momentum on the battlefield for over a year - although at a high cost in infantry and armored vehicles - and are advancing in specific points along the 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of the front line, especially in the eastern region of Donetsk, against a weakened and tired rival army.
Ukraine’s attack on Russia
Hours before the start of negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones in the largest attack of this kind since the Kremlin ordered the large-scale invasion of its neighbor.
Two people died and 18 others were injured, including three minors, in the massive drone attack that affected 10 Russian regions, according to authorities. No major damage was reported.
Russia, for its part, launched 126 Shahed drones and other unmanned aircraft, as well as a ballistic missile towards Ukraine on Tuesday, reported the Ukrainian air force, as part of the relentless Kremlin bombardment against civilian areas during the war.