Ukraine to propose its own ceasefire deal in US talks in Saudi Arabia

A Ukrainian delegation acceptable to conscionable with America’s apical diplomat successful Saudi Arabia astir ending the 3-year warfare with Russia.

The delegation volition suggest a ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range rocket strikes, arsenic good arsenic the merchandise of prisoners, 2 elder Ukrainian officials said connected Monday.

The officials, who spoke connected the information of anonymity, besides told The Associated Press that the Ukrainian delegation is acceptable during the talks to motion an statement with the United States connected entree to Ukraine’s uncommon world minerals — a woody that US President Donald Trump is keen to secure.

Kyiv is trying to repair the harm done erstwhile Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Feb. 28 sojourn to Washington descended into a unrecorded connected aerial statement successful the Oval Office with Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

At involvement is the subject assistance and quality antecedently offered by the US that had helped Ukraine successful the warfare but is present paused arsenic Washington pushes for a bid agreement.

Rubio and Zelenskyy landed a fewer hours isolated Jeddah, though they were not expected to meet. Both were to conscionable separately with the kingdom’s almighty crown prince connected Monday evening.

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane, Rubio said helium and nationalist information advisor Mike Waltz would measure Ukraine’s responses successful Saudi Arabia.

If Ukraine and the US scope an knowing acceptable to Trump, that could accelerate his administration’s propulsion for bid talks.

Rubio: We volition spot however acold isolated we genuinely are

“What we privation to cognize is, are they funny entering immoderate benignant of bid speech and wide outlines of the kinds of things they could consider, recognizing that it has been a costly and bloody warfare for the Ukrainians. They person suffered greatly, and their radical person suffered greatly,” Rubio said. “And it’s hard successful the aftermath of thing similar that to adjacent speech astir concessions, but that’s the lone mode this is going to extremity and forestall much suffering.”

He added: “I’m not going to acceptable immoderate conditions connected what they person to oregon request to do. I deliberation we privation to perceive to spot however acold they’re consenting to spell and past comparison that to what the Russians privation and spot however acold isolated we genuinely are.”

Zelenskyy has said his squad gathering with Rubio volition see his main of staff, Andriy Yermak, overseas curate Andriy Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Rubio volition pb the U.S. team.

Europe is skeptical astir the talks

The remainder of Europe remains skeptical astir the talks arsenic Washington has sidelined them.

Last week, the European Union agreed to boost the continent’s defences and to escaped up hundreds of billions of euros for information successful effect to the Trump administration's displacement successful stance connected Ukraine.

White House peculiar envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News connected Monday that the intermission successful US quality sharing with Ukraine has not constricted 'defence intelligence' sharing.

“We ne'er unopen disconnected quality for ... thing antiaircraft that the Ukrainians need,” Witkoff said.

A intermission connected sharing US quality that tin beryllium utilized for violative purposes by Ukrainian forces remains successful effect, according to a US authoritative acquainted with the substance who was not authorized to remark and spoke connected the information of anonymity.

The authoritative suggested that advancement could beryllium made toward reinstating intelligence-sharing with Ukraine during the Saudi talks.