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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chief US diplomat Marco Rubio have arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of ceasefire talks on Tuesday as Ukraine’s proposal for a partial truce raised hopes of a breakthrough after three years of war.
The meeting between the two nations’ officials comes amid a shift in America’s wartime policies towards Ukraine — including halting military aid and intelligence sharing — and as US President Donald Trump continues to publicly praise Moscow.
It also marks the first time Ukrainian representatives are taking part in peace negotiations, after previously being sidelined.
Zelenskyy has been desperate to show Trump — who wants to see the war ended at lightning speed — that the pair can work together,
The Ukrainian president has also been trying to secure long-term US security guarantees for Ukraine, which his government sees as crucial for any viable peace deal.
Zelenskyy will not attend the talks with US officials himself, instead sending a delegation to speak on his behalf, which includes his chief of staff, his foreign and defence ministers and a top military official from his administration.
“On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X.
“Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively,” he added.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has been arranging the talks, has said the idea was to “get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well”.
Zelenskyy has called for a truce in the air and at sea, as well as a prisoner exchange, in what he says could serve as a test of Russia’s commitment to ending the war.
Moscow has rejected the idea of a temporary truce, which has also been proposed by Britain and France, framing it as a bid from Ukraine to buy time to prevent its military collapse.
Ahead of the talks, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his commitment to signing a minerals deal with the US that would create a joint fund from the sale of Ukrainian minerals, and which Trump has said is crucial to securing any continued US backing.
Ukraine is currently facing increased pressure on the battlefield.
Last summer, in a surprise incursion, its troops stormed the Russian region of Kursk, but since then their position has deteriorated, with open source maps showing that they are nearly surrounded by Russian troops.
Russia has launched 1,200 aerial guided bombs, nearly 870 attack drones and more than 80 missiles at Ukraine in the past week alone, according to Zelenskyy.
In total, Russia now holds around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea which it annexed in 2014, and its troops are also pressing ahead in the eastern Donetsk region.
