Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 10, 2025, to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit, timed after the Ramadan fast, precedes a critical Tuesday summit between Zelenskyy’s team and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While Zelenskyy won’t attend the summit himself, his delegation aims to mend ties strained by a contentious February 28 Oval Office clash with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
The stakes are high as Ukraine seeks to restore U.S. military aid and intelligence-sharing, vital since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Zelenskyy’s team, including Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, will face Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in Jeddah. The talks follow a pause in U.S. offensive intelligence-sharing, though defensive support continues, per White House envoy Steve Witkoff.
Rubio, speaking en route, emphasized understanding Ukraine’s stance on peace talks. “We want to know if they’re open to peace conversations and what they might consider,” he said, acknowledging the war’s toll on Ukrainians. He stressed listening to Kyiv’s limits and comparing them to Russia’s demands to gauge the feasibility of negotiations, without imposing conditions.
Zelenskyy’s Saudi visit underscores the kingdom’s growing diplomatic role, with Prince Mohammed also set to meet Rubio. The U.S. hopes an agreement acceptable to Trump could hasten peace efforts, though no Zelenskyy-Rubio meeting is planned in Jeddah. The talks could also pave the way for resuming full intelligence-sharing, a U.S. official hinted anonymously.
Europe, meanwhile, watches warily from the sidelines. The EU recently bolstered its defenses and unlocked billions for security, reacting to America’s shifting Ukraine policy under Trump. The rest of the continent feels increasingly excluded from these pivotal discussions.
At its core, the Jeddah summit tests whether Ukraine and the U.S. can align on a path to peace—or at least reduce further suffering—amid a bloody, protracted conflict with no end in sight.