US, Ukraine Hold Talks In Jeddah After Russia Drone Strikes
The United States and Ukraine engaged in extensive closed-door negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, seeking pathways to end the war with Russia. These critical talks come in the immediate aftermath of Ukraine’s most significant drone offensive against Moscow to date, highlighting the escalating nature of the conflict even as diplomatic efforts intensify. The timing of the attack occurring just hours before diplomats convened underscores the complex military and political dynamics at play.
Tuesday’s discussions take place amid dramatically transformed US-Ukraine relations following President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s challenging meeting with US President Donald Trump last month. The Trump administration has fundamentally altered America’s approach to the conflict, suspending military aid and intelligence sharing while declining to provide security guarantees within any prospective peace framework. This policy shift has left Ukrainian officials navigating uncertain diplomatic terrain with their once-steadfast ally.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the talks would serve as a crucial gauge of Ukraine’s willingness to make concessions to achieve peace. After several hours of discussions, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz briefly emerged to tell reporters, “We’re getting there,” while Ukrainian delegation leader Andriy Yermak described the meeting as having “begun very constructively.” International stakeholders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, have publicly expressed hope for positive outcomes from the negotiations.
The diplomatic backdrop includes Ukraine’s unprecedented drone offensive against Moscow, with Russian officials reporting 337 drones intercepted overnight. The attack resulted in three fatalities at a meat warehouse and temporarily shut down Moscow’s four airports. Ukrainian sources claimed successful strikes on an oil refinery near Moscow and facilities in Russia’s Oryol region. Hungary reported that crude oil shipments via Russia’s Druzhba pipeline were suspended following the attack, demonstrating the conflict’s wider economic implications.
Prior to the talks, President Zelenskiy proposed an initial truce with Russia in the air and at sea a strategic move designed to demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to peace efforts while testing Moscow’s willingness to engage in meaningful de-escalation. This proposal appears calibrated to align with Trump’s stated objective of swiftly ending the conflict while positioning Russia, rather than Ukraine, as the obstacle to peace.
Secretary Rubio has acknowledged Ukraine’s challenging position regarding territorial reclamation, with Russia currently occupying approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea. European allies continue to advocate for Ukraine’s negotiating position to be strengthened before any peace deal, warning against rushed diplomacy with an aggressor. Meanwhile, reports indicate Trump’s Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who has been brought into Ukraine diplomacy, plans to visit Moscow for direct talks with President Vladimir Putin.
For more updates, stay tuned to CurrentAffair.com.pk.