The Trump administration believes Ukraine is prepared to advance negotiations on a ceasefire with Russia, a senior U.S. State Department official has stated. This development follows mounting pressure from Washington on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a swift truce though without any immediate assurance of U.S. security guarantees.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are set to meet their Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The high-level discussions come just days after a public rift between Trump and Zelensky at the White House, where the U.S. president suggested Kyiv was not yet ready to negotiate peace.
Diplomatic Push for Peace
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has left Moscow in control of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. With the conflict grinding on, the U.S. is actively pushing for a ceasefire framework, hoping to expedite a diplomatic resolution.
“The fact that they’re engaging at senior levels signals to us that they are serious about sitting down and moving forward,” the anonymous State Department official told reporters regarding the upcoming talks in Jeddah.
Although Zelensky is also traveling to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is not expected to take part directly in the ceasefire discussions with U.S. officials. Instead, Ukraine will be represented by Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, along with the country’s national security adviser and top defense and foreign officials.
Balancing Pressure and Security Guarantees
In a video address late Sunday, Zelensky voiced hope for “results both in bringing peace closer and in continuing support” from Ukraine’s allies. However, he has been facing significant U.S. pressure to make concessions ahead of any potential peace talks. While Zelensky insists on strong security guarantees for Kyiv, citing Russia’s past violations of ceasefire agreements there has been no indication of corresponding U.S. pressure on Moscow.
The recent diplomatic tensions reached a peak following the White House dispute, after which Zelensky reportedly sought to mend ties with Washington. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, later revealed that the Ukrainian leader had sent a letter expressing both regret and gratitude toward the U.S.
Military Aid and Strategic Interests
The fallout from the White House confrontation led to a temporary freeze in U.S. military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. However, Trump signaled on Sunday that this stance may soon change. When asked whether he would lift the intelligence pause, he replied, “Well, we just about have. I mean, we really just about have, and we want to do anything we can to get Ukraine to be serious about getting something done.” He did not elaborate further.
Another key issue on the table in Saudi Arabia is a major minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine. The agreement, previously derailed due to the diplomatic dispute, is reportedly back in discussion. Ukraine has offered the U.S. access to its rare earth mineral reserves in exchange for security guarantees, an arrangement that could significantly impact global supply chains.
U.S.-Russia Backchannel?
Interestingly, before the Washington row, Rubio had already held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia on February 18. The meeting was a follow-up to Trump’s controversial phone call with Putin, raising speculation about a possible U.S.-Russia backchannel aimed at shaping the future of Ukraine’s war and diplomacy.
As negotiations unfold in Saudi Arabia, all eyes will be on whether Ukraine and the U.S. can align on a ceasefire strategy and how Moscow might respond.
