Ukraine, U.S. Officials Hold Crucial Talks in Saudi Arabia Amid Moscow Drone Strikes

TDT | Manama

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Ukrainian and U.S. officials engaged in high-stakes discussions in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, seeking a path toward ending the ongoing war with Russia. The talks came just hours after Ukraine launched its largest drone assault on Moscow to date.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hopes the meeting in Jeddah will help rebuild "pragmatic" ties with Washington following a strained encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump last month. In a bid to align with Trump's push for a swift resolution to the conflict, Zelenskiy has proposed an initial truce with Russia in the air and at sea.

The move comes after Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of not being ready for peace and proceeded with direct negotiations with Moscow. Zelenskiy’s approach is seen as an effort to demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to ending the war on terms acceptable to the U.S. administration.

"The meeting has begun very constructively," wrote Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff and head of the Ukrainian delegation, in a Telegram post.

Meanwhile, European allies are closely monitoring the outcome, concerned about the evolving U.S.-Ukraine relationship under Trump's leadership. Washington’s shifting stance has heightened uncertainty over future Western support for Kyiv, adding pressure on Ukraine as it continues to resist Russian advances.