Hours after Kyiv launched its biggest drone strike on Moscow in the three-year conflict, Ukraine stated that discussions with the United States in Saudi Arabia started “very constructively” this morning, with a partial ceasefire with Russia on the table, reports RTE.
As President Donald Trump increased pressure on Ukraine to stop the conflict that started with Russia’s 2022 invasion, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga joined the summit in Jeddah, which Russia was not taking part in.
The discussions take place just days after the United States suspended military assistance, intelligence cooperation, and satellite imagery access following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s public dressing-down at the White House, reports RTE.
Hours after Kyiv launched its biggest drone strike on Moscow in the three-year conflict, Ukraine stated that discussions with the United States in Saudi Arabia started “very constructively” this morning, with a partial ceasefire with Russia on the table.
As President Donald Trump increased pressure on Ukraine to stop the conflict that started with Russia’s 2022 invasion, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga joined the summit in Jeddah, which Russia was not taking part in, reports RTE.
The discussions take place just days after the United States suspended military assistance, intelligence cooperation, and satellite imagery access following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s public dressing-down at the White House.
“This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air,” said Andriy Kovalenko, a national security council official responsible for countering disinformation, reports RTE.
Three people were killed in the attack, which both sides said was the largest so far against Moscow. According to the Russian army, 337 drones were apprehended around the nation.
Dealing with minerals
Mr. Zelensky left the White House late last month without signing a deal that would have given the US authority over Ukrainian natural resources. He met with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler in Jeddah yesterday, reports RTE.
Although Mr. Rubio stated that it would not be the main topic of the discussion, Mr. Zelensky has stated that he is still prepared to sign.
Mr Rubio, who is joined by national security advisor Mike Waltz, said the assistance suspension was “something I hope we can resolve” at the discussions.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a good meeting and good news to report,” Mr Rubio said, reports RTE.
According to Mr. Rubio, the US hasn’t stopped using intelligence for defence purposes.
“The meeting with the US team started very constructively, we continue our work,” Mr. Yermak said on social media, reports RTE.
In response to a question about whether the drone strike overnight may scuttle peace efforts, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov stated: “There are no (peace) negotiations yet, so there is nothing to disrupt here.”
Earlier, he refrained from commenting on Russia’s position over the planned partial ceasefire.
In an effort to acquire negotiating leverage, Russia has increased its strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and claimed to have retaken 12 communities that Ukraine had conquered in the Kursk area.
“It is absolutely impossible to talk about positions yet,” he said, reports RTE.
“The Americans will find out only today, as they themselves say, from Ukraine to what extent Ukraine is ready for peace,” reports RTE.
In an effort to acquire negotiating leverage, Russia has increased its strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and claimed to have retaken 12 communities that Ukraine had conquered in the Kursk area.
Rubio seeks ‘concessions’
During the notorious White House meeting last month, Mr. Zelensky remained silent when Vice President JD Vance criticised him, leading the Ukrainian leader to wonder why his nation should believe Russian claims, reports RTE.
Since then, he has sent Mr. Trump a letter of repentance.
According to a Ukrainian official yesterday, Ukraine would express its support for a limited truce in the air and at sea in response to pressure from Washington.
Mr. Rubio said that such a suggestion would probably be well received by the Trump administration, reports RTE.
“I’m not saying that alone is enough, but it’s the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,” he told reporters, reports RTE.
“You’re not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions,” reports RTE.
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