Rubio, Zelensky touch-down in Jeddah for crucial peace talks

The US Secretary of State said he saw promise in Kyiv’s proposal for a partial ceasefire in the war with Russia as he arrived in Saudi Arabia for high-stakes talks with Ukrainian officials.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio greets well-wishers upon arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Picture: AFP

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested Washington hopes to resolve the military aid pause to Ukraine as he arrived in Saudi Arabia for high-stakes talks with Ukrainian officials.

Mr Rubio added that he saw promise in Kyiv’s proposal for a partial ceasefire in the country’s three-year conflict with Russia ahead of the first Ukraine-US meeting since a White House blow-up between presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump that led to Washington halting military aid and intelligence to Kyiv.

Speaking shortly before he arrived in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, Mr Rubio said the Ukrainian proposal was not enough: “But it’s the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict”.

A Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday that Kyiv had “a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea”.

“Because these are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor and it’s possible to start with them,” they told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

It came as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to host virtual talks at the weekend among leaders of nations willing to help support a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The meeting “will build on the Lancaster House summit,” his spokesman said of the online talks, which come after a summit of European and other leaders in London last month aimed at shoring up support for Kyiv.

The so-called “coalition of the willing” is said to include about 20 countries.

Britain’s Financial Times newspaper, citing a source briefed on preparations for the Jeddah talks, said Kyiv would propose a partial ceasefire hoping that Washington would resume military aid and intelligence-sharing.

Mr Zelensky on Monday said Ukraine wants peace, insisting Russia was the sole reason that the war was carrying on.

“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,” he wrote on social media.

President Volodymyr Zelensky is welcomed by Saudi deputy Mecca Governor Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz (C-R) upon his arrival to Jeddah Picture: Ukrainian Presidential Service/AFP

Mr Zelensky will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi leader, on Monday, before his officials sit down with the Americans on Tuesday.

He said Ukraine is “fully committed to constructive dialogue”, but wants its interests to be “taken into account in the right way”.

“We hope for results, both in terms of bringing peace closer and continuing support,” Mr Zelensky said in his evening address on Sunday.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington wanted to use the talks “to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well”.

In Jeddah, the port city close to Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, dozens of Ukrainian and Saudi flags flew on a main roundabout near the airport and on thoroughfares.

Flags of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine line the King Abdulaziz Road in the Saudi Red Sea port city of Jeddah ahead of a visit by the Ukrainian President. Picture: AFP

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will fly there on Monday, the US State Department said.

Mike Waltz, US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, has also confirmed his participation.

Mr Zelensky said his negotiators will include Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak and Pavlo Palisa, a military commander and Mr Yermak’s deputy.

‘Significant advantage’

Washington has suspended military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence-sharing and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the table with Moscow, which launched its invasion in February 2022 on orders from President Vladimir Putin.

Russia could enjoy a “significant advantage” against Ukrainian troops if the US sustains its pause on sharing intelligence, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP.

“The main thing is how long it will last. If it lasts a long time, it will give the Russians a significant advantage,” the source said.

Mr Trump has renewed communications with Mr Putin and criticised Mr Zelensky, raising fears in Kyiv and among European allies that the US leader may try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favouring Russia.

On Friday, however, Mr Trump said he was considering further sanctions on Russia for “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield.

Ukraine’s European allies last week held a summit with Mr Zelensky and announced they would greatly increase defence spending.

‘Regrettable’

The Saudi talks come after the White House clash saw Mr Zelensky leave without signing the minerals deal demanded by Mr Trump.

Mr Zelensky later called the incident “regrettable” and said he was ready to work with Mr Trump’s “strong leadership”. He also expressed readiness to sign the deal.

Mr Witkoff said Mr Trump received a letter from Mr Zelensky, calling it “a very positive first step” and “an apology”.

Asked if Ukraine would sign the deal in Saudi Arabia, Mr Witkoff said: “I think Zelensky has offered to sign it, and we’ll see if he follows through.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Mr Rubio met in Riyadh last month, agreeing to resume dialogue and start talks on the Ukraine conflict.

Mr Zelensky has visited Saudi Arabia several times since Russia’s invasion in 2022 but postponed a trip last month, saying he was not invited to the Russia-US talks.