Photo: Oxu.Az
Ukrainian and American officials have begun talks in Saudi Arabia to find ways to end the war with Russia. This happened just hours after Kyiv launched its largest drone attack on Moscow to date.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes the talks will help restore pragmatic relations with Washington after his failed meeting with US President Donald Trump last month. Kyiv has proposed an initial air and sea ceasefire, seeking to demonstrate a willingness to work towards a quick cessation of hostilities – a key demand of Trump.
Reuters reports this, citing sources familiar with the talks. At the same time, the agency notes that these talks are taking place against the backdrop of a marked cooling in relations between Kyiv and Washington, in particular due to a change in US policy towards the war.
Washington has changed its approach, cutting off military aid to Ukraine and suspending intelligence sharing. This is increasing pressure on Kyiv and forcing it to look for alternative ways to ensure security and support for its allies.
Before the talks, Zelenskyy assured that Kyiv’s position would be constructive.
“We hope for practical results,” he wrote on social media site X late on Monday night.
According to Russian officials, on Tuesday night, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow, launching at least 91 drones. The strike killed at least one civilian, caused fires, closed airports and cancelled dozens of flights.
Moscow claimed that a total of 337 drones were shot down over Russia, although there is no independent confirmation of these figures.
The timing of the attack and the talks appears to be a signal to the West that, despite intense Russian missile attacks, Kyiv retains the ability to retaliate.
Zelenskyy called on European allies to support his idea of a limited truce, which should be a test of Moscow’s readiness to end the war.
Following the diplomatic conflict between Zelenskyy and Trump, which stalled the signing of a minerals deal, Kyiv is seeking to restore US trust and secure security guarantees.
On the US side, Trump called the agreement to be discussed in Jeddah a key factor in the future US support for Ukraine. He also indicated that it could compensate for the multibillion-dollar military aid provided to Kyiv since 2022.
On his way to Jeddah, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the talks would help assess how much Ukraine is willing to make concessions.
“We need to understand Ukraine’s position and have a general idea of what concessions they are willing to make, because a ceasefire and an end to the war are not possible unless both sides are willing to compromise,” Rubio said.
The talks in Saudi Arabia could be a turning point in the war, determining the future strategy of both Kyiv and Washington. But whether Moscow is ready for serious talks remains an open question.
