Officials involved in the talks revealed that Kyiv plans to propose a partial ceasefire with Russia. This agreement would halt drone and long-range missile strikes, along with combat operations in the Black Sea.
Trump’s Stance on Aid and Intelligence Cooperation
NBC News reports that U.S. officials doubt a minerals deal will be enough to convince Trump to resume cooperation on aid and intelligence. He expects a shift in the Ukrainian president’s stance on peace talks, including a willingness to make concessions, such as ceding territory to Russia.
Zelensky’s Diplomatic Mission in Saudi Arabia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Saudi Arabia tomorrow for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On Wednesday, he will travel to Jeddah, where his team will discuss peace efforts with U.S. representatives from Donald Trump’s administration.
Ukraine’s Push for U.S. Military and Intelligence Support
According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian officials hope to persuade the U.S. to reciprocate military and intelligence support by demonstrating Zelensky’s commitment to ending the war swiftly. Kyiv’s proposal for a partial ceasefire aims to encourage Washington to lift last week’s freeze on intelligence sharing and arms supplies. U.S. officials imposed these restrictions to push Zelensky into peace talks with Russia.
Key Objective: Securing Continued U.S. Aid
“The goal of the negotiations in Saudi Arabia includes securing continued U.S. aid,” said Fedir Venislavski, a member of Zelensky’s party and the parliamentary committee on national security.
U.S. Expectations and Trump’s Statements
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will remain in Jeddah until Wednesday for negotiations on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump expressed optimism on Sunday, saying he expects “some pretty good results from Saudi Arabia this week.” He added that Ukraine must show a stronger commitment to peace, as it “hasn’t demonstrated that enough so far.”
Pressure on Ukraine to Change Its Approach
U.S. officials maintain that Trump remains unconvinced by the minerals deal. They say he seeks a clear change in Zelensky’s approach to negotiations, including potential concessions like territorial adjustments. Additionally, they claim Trump wants Ukraine to make progress on elections and possibly for Zelensky to step down, as reported by Index.hr.
American pressure has forced Kyiv to adjust its strategy after a failed White House meeting on February 28.
Ukraine’s Shift in Strategy
“The approach has shifted. Now, the priority is normalizing relations with the U.S.,” said Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko. “Previously, the plan was to secure security guarantees before negotiating a ceasefire. That’s no longer realistic. Trump argues that Ukraine doesn’t want a ceasefire, so we must prove we’re ready for direct talks with Russia.”
Russia’s Response to Peace Talks
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied reports that the U.S. and Russia might meet for discussions in Saudi Arabia this week. Commenting on the upcoming U.S.-Ukraine talks, he emphasized the need to determine whether Ukraine is genuinely interested in peace.
Russia’s Response to Peace Talks
Meanwhile, Europe is reassessing its security strategy following the U.S. decision to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Leading intelligence experts in the Bundestag are now pushing for a European spy network, warning that Europe cannot rely on U.S. intelligence amid increasingly uncertain relations, Politico reports.
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