Talks begin between Ukraine and U.S. in Saudi Arabia
The Hindu
High-stakes Ukraine-US talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, address ceasefire, drone attacks, and rare earth minerals deal.
High-stakes talks between Ukraine and the United States have started in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Journalists briefly entered the room to see the two sides as the meeting began at a luxury hotel in the Red Sea port city on Tuesday (March 11, 2025).
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio smiled for the camera, while Ukrainian officials sat without expression at a table across from them.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister was on hand for the talks. American, Saudi and Ukrainian flags stood in the background. Officials answered no shouted questions.
The talks reflect a new diplomatic push after an unprecedented argument erupted during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s February 28 visit to the White House.
They came hours after Russian air defences shot down 337 Ukrainian drones over 10 Russian regions overnight, killing two people and injuring 18, according to officials.
Ukrainian officials told The Associated Press on Monday (March 10, 2025) that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea, which would bring safer shipping, as well long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine, and the release of prisoners.
The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has said it’s ready to cease hostilities on condition that Ukraine drops its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions that Moscow occupies as Russian.
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