Senior US and Ukrainian officials have arrived in Saudi Arabia for high-stakes meetings on Tuesday aimed at repairing their severely strained relationship, which has left Ukraine without crucial support from Washington. This official meeting, which takes place in the Saudi city of Jeddah, is the first since a contentious encounter between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former US President Donald Trump that severely impacted ties between the two countries.
The Ukrainian delegation, led by Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with other senior White House officials. These discussions are seen as vital for mending the relationship between the two nations, especially as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine. The choice of Jeddah as a neutral location for these talks underscores the importance of diplomacy in addressing the current impasse.
This marks the first official meeting between the two governments since the disastrous Oval Office confrontation between Zelenskyy and Trump. That encounter led to the US halting vital military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, significantly hampering the country’s defence efforts as it faced increasing pressure from Russian forces. The fallout from that dispute has left Kyiv in a difficult position, without the level of support it once enjoyed from the US.
Neither President Zelenskyy nor President Joe Biden will take part in the talks, although Zelenskyy was in Jeddah on Monday for a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi government has played a mediating role between Ukraine and Russia, which could potentially provide a framework for future negotiations aimed at reducing tensions in the region.
The outcome of this meeting is critical for Ukraine, as the nation seeks to rebuild its relationship with the US and secure the resources and support necessary to confront the ongoing Russian invasion. While the situation remains complex, the dialogue between the two governments represents an important step towards restoring cooperation and solidarity at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.
