Ukraine prepares for crucial talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday, where a meeting will be held the following day between Ukrainian and US delegations to discuss future peace negotiations to end the Russian offensive.

Tuesday’s meeting is expected to be the first between Ukrainian and US officials since President Volodymyr Zelensky’s ill-fated visit to the White House in late February, which saw him have a verbal altercation with his US counterpart Donald Trump.

Since then, Washington has suspended military aid and intelligence sharing, as Kyiv tries to patch things up with Trump.

Zelensky is scheduled to open the diplomatic meetings on Monday by meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“After that, my team will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners,” Zelensky said.

These anticipated talks, scheduled to be held on Tuesday in Jeddah, are supposed to help set a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, according to US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who will attend the talks.

Ukraine remained more ambiguous in this regard, with Zelensky saying, “We hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps,” without specifying the subject.

The Ukrainian president stressed that Kyiv supports a constructive dialogue but wants its interests to be taken into account, expressing his confidence that the meeting will be fruitful.

Zelensky said Sunday evening that he hopes to achieve results, both in terms of moving closer to peace and continuing support, in an apparent reference to the suspension of US aid.

Relations between Washington and Kyiv have changed dramatically in just a few weeks, since Trump returned to the White House in January.

This comes at a time when Kyiv is suffering on the front lines.