A senior US State Department official states that Ukraine is prepared to advance discussions on a ceasefire with Russia, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz head to Saudi Arabia for talks, amidst ongoing political strains between President Trump and President Zelensky.
US Pushes for Ceasefire Progress in Ukraine Amid Political Tensions
US Pushes for Ceasefire Progress in Ukraine Amid Political Tensions
High-level talks set to address ceasefire negotiations as the US emphasizes Ukraine's willingness to engage.
The Trump administration believes Ukraine's leadership is "ready to move forward" on the US demand for a ceasefire process with Russia, according to a senior US State Department official. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are set to arrive in Saudi Arabia for talks with their Ukrainian counterparts on Tuesday. President Donald Trump has increased pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a rapid ceasefire with Moscow, even as there are no immediate pledges for US security guarantees.
Ten days prior, a public disagreement occurred between Trump and Zelensky at the White House, where Trump asserted that Zelensky was not prepared to conclude the ongoing conflict. Following President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukrainian territory.
According to the State Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the arrival of the US representatives at senior levels signals a willingness on Ukraine's part to engage in discussions. While Zelensky is also scheduled to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is not expected to take part in formal talks with US officials. Instead, Ukraine's delegation will be led by Zelensky's head of office, Andriy Yermak, alongside the national security advisor and foreign and defense ministers.
In his recent video address, Zelensky expressed hopes for tangible progress toward both peace and the continuation of support for Ukraine. However, he has faced significant pressure from the US to make concessions before peace negotiations, while simultaneously advocating for firm security guarantees for Kyiv, emphasizing perceived violations of prior ceasefire agreements by Putin.
Reportedly, any pressure from the US for concessions from Moscow has not yet been publicly disclosed. Following the tensions at the White House, Zelensky expressed his regret and sought to mend ties with the US, which remains Ukraine's largest military supplier. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, commented that Trump received a letter from Zelensky that included an apology and expressions of gratitude.
In Saudi Arabia, the US team is expected to discuss establishing a "framework" for peace to facilitate an end to the conflict. A significant minerals agreement that had stalled due to the diplomatic fallout is also back on the agenda; Ukraine has proposed granting the US access to its rare earth mineral reserves in return for US security guarantees. The previous clash at the White House led to a suspension of military aid from the US and a halt in intelligence sharing. When asked if he would consider reinstating intelligence support, Trump indicated that progress was being made, but provided no further specifics.
Prior to the diplomatic issues that arose in Washington, Rubio had engaged in discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia, as a follow-up to Trump's contentious conversation with Putin.
