Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to visit Riyadh today, where he will meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia.
Zelensky’s visit comes one day before talks between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, aimed at bringing an end to the three-year-long war.
The U.S., the main military supporter of Kyiv, is aiming to swiftly resolve the conflict through direct talks with Moscow, while Washington has suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
The U.S.-Ukraine talks on March 11 will be the first formal discussions since the confrontation in the Oval Office between Zelensky, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance on February 28. Following the public clash, the Ukrainian president was asked to leave the White House.
Zelensky has stated that he will not be part of the U.S.-Ukraine discussions in Jeddah. The Ukrainian delegation will include Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
They will meet with the American delegation, expected to include Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Rubio departed for Saudi Arabia on the evening of March 9.
“We are fully committed to constructive dialogue and hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps,” Zelensky wrote on X on March 9. “Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to act quickly and effectively.”
Kyiv is likely to propose a peace plan drafted by Zelensky that includes an air and naval agreement as the first step.
Zelensky is facing significant pressure from Washington to quickly agree to a ceasefire with Russia, despite the U.S. not committing to security guarantees. However, Moscow has shown no interest in halting hostilities so far.
Russia has intensified its attacks on its neighbor, and recent reports indicate progress on the battlefield.
On March 9, Trump suggested that Ukraine may not survive the war against Russia, even with U.S. support.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump defended his decision to reduce support for Ukraine, saying, “Well, they might not survive [the war] anyway.”
Trump also reiterated his claim that Zelensky is not “grateful” for U.S. support, but described the Ukrainian president as “smart” and “strong.”
