US-Ukrainian Talks in Saudi Arabia Focus on Progress and Peace Talks

Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff

I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Russia-Ukraine war

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Image Source: Patrick Reevell

The United States is hopeful of achieving "substantial progress" in this week's talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, as stated by Steve Witkoff, the US Middle East envoy. The high level talks, which are set for Tuesday, will feature US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. The main issues for discussion are intelligence sharing and the possible inking of a critical minerals agreement, with indications pointing to an agreement. The meeting follows mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to offer major concessions to Moscow for a ceasefire, without any immediate US security assurances.

The discussions between the US and Ukrainian leaders will address a wide array of topics, such as security measures and border conflicts. Witkoff noted that the US government had actively backed Ukraine's defense requirements, encompassing the sharing of intelligence. Previous remarks by Trump indicated that there had been a break in the intelligence sharing agreement, with Trump saying that it was "just about" to be removed. These talks come as the Ukrainian government is under extreme pressure to compromise on their war effort while juggling calls for more robust security guarantees.

Ukrainian leaders, such as President Zelensky's office head Andriy Yermak and other senior ministers, will represent Ukraine in Jeddah, though Zelensky himself will not be involved in the official negotiations. The Ukrainian government is still committed to seeking peace, maintaining their position that Russian actions have been the main impediment to talks. Tensions are still running high, with competing narratives on Ukrainian willingness to conduct peace talks. The US is seeking concrete actions from Ukraine, but Zelensky is demanding absolute security guarantees prior to any peace deal being possible.

One of the significant elements in the upcoming talks is the prospect of a critical minerals agreement. Ukraine is proposing to give America access to its rare earth mineral deposits, key to modern technology, in return for security guarantees. The deal, which was stalled earlier due to the diplomatic impasse, is likely to be discussed during the talks. This agreement is a vital part of the overall US-Ukraine relationship, which has been under great strain but is still important to both nations, especially as Ukraine continues to fight off Russian aggression.

The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to be fierce, with recent drone attacks from Russia killing at least 25 individuals and growing reports of Russian troops trying to surround Ukrainian forces. Amidst the military setbacks, Ukraine is still building its defense capabilities, with plans to buy a large number of drones for its military in 2025. With peace talks ongoing, the future of the war is unclear, with both sides under tremendous pressure to negotiate a settlement while protecting their national interests.