Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to travel to Saudi Arabia for a pivotal meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This visit precedes crucial discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. officials aimed at exploring avenues to end the ongoing conflict with Russia, a moment that feels increasingly urgent for Ukraine.
“Ukraine wants peace,” Zelensky stated emphatically, asserting that Russia is the “only reason” the war continues. In a recent social media post, he remarked, “Ukraine has been seeking peace since the very first second of the war, and we have always said that the only reason that the war is continuing is because of Russia.”
The landscape has shifted dramatically for the United States, once Ukraine’s staunchest ally. U.S. policies during the war have evolved, as the country now seeks a swift conclusion to the hostilities. This change includes direct engagement with Russia while minimizing military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Tomorrow’s discussions will be the first official meeting since a tumultuous Oval Office encounter between Zelensky and former President Donald Trump, marked by sharp exchanges in front of the international media regarding the war with Russia. It is expected that the focus will be on developing a bilateral minerals agreement and strategizing an end to the conflict.
Amid immense pressure from Trump, who is advocating for a quick resolution to the conflict, Zelensky is striving to demonstrate their alignment of goals. However, he has struggled to secure vital U.S. security guarantees that Ukraine considers essential for any peace deal.
Zelensky has announced that he will not personally attend the upcoming talks but will send a delegation comprising his chief of staff, the foreign and defense ministers, and a senior military official from the presidential administration. “On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps,” he stated on X. “Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively.”
U.S. officials are planning to use the meeting to gauge Ukraine’s willingness to make material concessions to Russia as a condition for peace. “You can’t say ‘I want peace,’ and ‘I refuse to compromise on anything’,” one U.S. official pointed out, emphasizing the need for realism in the negotiations. Another official added, “We want to see if the Ukrainians are interested not just in peace, but in a realistic peace.”
Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov conveyed the expectation that the U.S. is awaiting a signal from Ukraine that they are prepared for peace. “This is, in fact, probably what everyone is waiting for,” he told reporters.
Trump expressed optimism about the outcome of the upcoming talks, noting that the U.S. has “just about” resumed intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Meanwhile, special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is orchestrating the discussions, emphasized the goal of establishing a framework for a peace agreement and a potential initial ceasefire.
Zelensky has proposed a truce both in air and maritime venues, alongside a prisoner exchange, indicating this might serve as a test of Russia’s commitment to de-escalation. However, Russia has dismissed the idea of a temporary truce, claiming it would merely delay the inevitable and prevent a Ukrainian military collapse. This stance has also been echoed by British and French officials.
In an effort to fortify ties with the U.S., Zelensky expressed Ukraine’s readiness to sign a minerals agreement that would create a joint fund arising from the sale of Ukrainian minerals, which the U.S. has deemed vital for maintaining support.
As questions linger over U.S. backing, Zelensky is actively urging European allies to amplify their support for Ukraine. The battlefield situation for Ukraine is under growing scrutiny, particularly as troops in the Kursk region are facing mounting pressure, with reports indicating that they are nearly encircled by Russian forces. The situation is dire: Russia currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and has intensified its military activities in the eastern Donetsk region, ramping up drone and missile strikes across Ukraine.
In the past week alone, “Russia has launched 1,200 aerial guided bombs, nearly 87 attack drones, and more than 80 missiles at Ukraine,” Zelensky reported, underscoring the critical nature of the conflict at hand.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
