Senior US and Ukrainian officials are planning to meet next week to discuss the first steps of a deal that could seek an end to the war in Ukraine, after a week of US moves casting doubt on its support for the country. Both President Trump and President Zelensky of Ukraine confirmed the meeting, which is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia.
“Ukrainian and American teams have resumed work, and we hope that next week we will have a meaningful meeting,” Zelensky said in a statement Thursday. Zelensky said that Ukraine would send a delegation to meet with “military representatives of countries that are ready to make greater efforts to reliably guarantee security within the framework of ending this war.” He said the meeting was scheduled for Tuesday. Russian officials met last month with top Trump officials in Saudi Arabia.
At next week’s meeting, Zelensky said the Ukrainians would insist on a number of commitments from Russia to test whether a lasting peace could ultimately be reached. Those demands include Russian pledges not to attack Ukraine’s energy or other civilian infrastructure; a truce for missiles, bombs, long-range drones; and no military ops in Black Sea.