MUST-READS

• Saudi Crown Prince, Putin discuss bilateral cooperation and Ukraine conflict

  The Crown Prince emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to doing everything possible to support dialogue and find a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine. The Russian President expressed his continued support for these efforts, according to the SPA. The conversation followed a Tuesday meeting in Jeddah, where Ukrainian and American officials convened under the auspices of Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine-Russia ceasefire proposal. At the meeting, Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire, with Washington committing to discuss proposals for a lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s long-term security.

• Ukraine agrees to U.S. ceasefire plan. ‘Hopefully Russia agrees to it,’ Trump

  The United States will resume military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine after Ukrainian negotiators today agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day interim ceasefire, which the US will now discuss with Moscow, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. “We’ll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they’ll say yes,” Rubio told journalists after the conclusion of talks with the Ukrainians in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, tonight. “The ball is now in their court.” President Trump “wants the war to end,” Rubio said. “Today, Ukraine has taken a concrete step in that regard. We hope the Russians will reciprocate.” “The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear: that they share President Trump’s vision for peace,” US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said. “They share his determination to end the fighting.”

• US resumes sending aid, intel to Ukraine; seeks ‘yes’ from Russia on ceasefire

  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his own statement that the day’s discussions began with Ukraine’s key priorities: stopping Russia’s missile and drone attacks, releasing prisoners of war, the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, and building confidence in the overall diplomatic process. “The American side understands our arguments and considers our proposals,” Zelenskyy said. “The U.S. side proposed taking an even bigger first step—a 30-day full interim ceasefire, not only stopping missile, drone, and bomb attacks, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line. Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal.”

• Saudi Arabia, Ukraine Issue Joint Statement Emphasizing Strong Economic Ties and Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Trade Volume

  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine commended the strong economic ties between the two friendly countries and emphasized the importance of joint action to develop the volume of trade exchange. The two sides also welcomed the upcoming reestablishment of the Saudi-Ukrainian Business Council in 2025. This came in a joint statement issued following the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the text of which reads as follows: "Within the framework of distinguished relations and close cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 10, 2025. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received President Zelenskyy at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. They held an official discussion session, during which they reviewed the aspects of the distinguished relations between the two friendly countries, and expressed their desire to enhance them in all fields.

• US wants Ukraine to ‘do difficult things,’ Rubio says ahead of Saudi ceasefire talks

  The two sides have framed Tuesday's talks as a way to reset bilateral relations following last month's explosive Oval Office meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance. The showdown prompted Trump to denounce Kyiv as the main impediment to peace in Ukraine, as well as placing a freeze on U.S. military aid and some intelligence sharing. "The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things," Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- who will lead the U.S. delegation -- said on Monday ahead of the talks. Zelenskyy has stressed his readiness for peace, though repeatedly warned that any agreement must ensure deterrence against future Russian aggression. On Monday, Zelenskyy -- who will not take part in Tuesday's talks -- traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.

• Rubio in Saudi Arabia for US-Ukraine talks, hopes to resolve Ukraine aid pause

  “The Ukrainians are already receiving all defensive intelligence information as we speak. I think all the notion of the pause in aid broadly is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that,” Rubio told reporters aboard a military plane before landing in Jeddah. “We're not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map but just get a general sense of what concessions are in the realm of the possible for them [Ukrainians],” Rubio said, adding that there is no military solution to the war, and that both Russia and Ukraine need to “do difficult things.” On Tuesday, Rubio will join U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz for the Jeddah talks with Ukrainian officials as President Donald Trump pushes to broker a swift end to the war.

• Analysis: Why Saudi Arabia Makes Sense For Ukraine Peace Talks

  The talks are slated to bring together a Ukrainian delegation that will include Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also due in Jeddah; in addition to meetings with Ukrainian counterparts, the State Department said he is also expected to meet with the Saudi crown prince. Saudi Arabia’s role in potential peace talks came into focus in February, when US and Russian diplomatic officials held a first round of talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Those discussions yielded the promise of slightly less frigid relations between Washington and Moscow, with the two countries agreeing to begin restoring diplomatic ties. But the ruckus in the Oval Office showed, dealmaking with Trump is a highly personal affair. And the Saudi crown prince, widely known by his initials MBS, has a uniquely close relationship with the US president.

• Rubio heads to Saudi Arabia for US-Ukraine talks, then Canada for G7

  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday for U.S.-Ukraine talks as President Donald Trump pushes to broker a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine war, despite Russia’s latest massive aerial attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. While in Jeddah, Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region and strengthen the U.S.-Saudi relationship, said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. According to the State Department, Rubio has “underscored President Trump's determination to end the war as soon as possible and emphasized that all sides must take steps to secure a sustainable peace” in a Friday call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

• What can Ukraine expect from talks with US in Saudi Arabia?

  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to visit Saudi Arabia next week for a planned meeting there between delegates from Ukraine and the US. If all goes according to plan, it will be the first Ukraine-US meeting since the presidents of the two countries quarreled in the White House on February 28. At those talks, US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of being ungrateful for the US aid given to Ukraine and of being unwilling to end the war in his country. After the Oval Office catastrophe, Zelenskyy cut his US trip short and left Washington. No new meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump is to be held in Riyadh.  Now, ahead of his planned visit to Saudi Arabia, he has announced on the messaging app Telegram that he is planning a meeting with the de facto Saudi ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, adding: "Ukraine is most interested in peace. As we told President Trump, Ukraine is working and will work exclusively constructively for a quick and reliable peace."

• What to know ahead of the talks between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia

  Saudi Arabia is to host talks on Tuesday between the United States and Ukraine in a new diplomatic push after an argument erupted during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Feb. 28 visit to the White House. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry in a statement on Friday identified the location for the talks as Jeddah, a port city on the Red Sea. It’s not clear why the kingdom picked Jeddah as opposed to Riyadh, the Saudi capital where the initial Russia-U.S. talks took place on Feb. 18. However, Jeddah has hosted other diplomatic engagements in the past and is home to royal palaces. Zelenskyy plans to visit Saudi Arabia on Monday ahead of the talks. He earlier delayed a trip to the kingdom after traveling to the neighboring United Arab Emirates, which also has been considered as a possible venue for peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

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