Kyiv, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as he prepares for a crucial diplomatic meeting with U.S. officials scheduled for Tuesday to discuss ending the war with Russia. The meeting in Jeddah comes at a time when Kyiv’s relations with Washington have become increasingly strained, following major shifts in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
Zelenskiy’s visit to Saudi Arabia is seen as a strategic move to seek additional diplomatic and economic support from the Gulf state while strengthening regional alliances. It also comes amid mounting pressure on Zelenskiy to align his stance with Washington’s vision of rapidly ending the war with Russia, even as Ukraine continues to seek long-term security guarantees from the U.S.
Zelenskiy Meets Crown Prince in Jeddah
On Monday, President Zelenskiy met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, where they discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine, humanitarian support, and possible peace efforts. Saudi Arabia has been playing a mediating role since the war began in February 2022, facilitating prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia, as well as hosting several rounds of talks between U.S. and Russian officials in recent months.
During the meeting, Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian support and diplomatic efforts in seeking a peaceful resolution. However, both leaders avoided making any public statements regarding Russia’s involvement, focusing instead on finding a pragmatic solution to end the conflict.
“Saudi Arabia has shown immense generosity and determination in fostering dialogue between conflicting sides. Ukraine remains hopeful that diplomatic channels will yield meaningful results soon,” Zelenskiy stated before the meeting.
Tensions Rise Ahead of U.S.-Ukraine Talks
While Zelenskiy’s visit to Saudi Arabia is seen as a diplomatic maneuver, all eyes remain on Tuesday’s meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Washington D.C.. This will mark the first official meeting since the disastrous Oval Office encounter between Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump, where Trump bluntly demanded a quick end to the war.
President Trump has significantly revised U.S. foreign policy regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, making it clear that the United States will no longer supply Ukraine with military aid or intelligence sharing — a sharp departure from the Biden administration’s strong military support. Instead, Trump is pushing for a rapid ceasefire and peace deal, even if it means conceding parts of Ukrainian territory to Russia.
Zelenskiy, however, remains wary of any hurried peace settlement without concrete security guarantees from the U.S., fearing that such a compromise could embolden Russia and result in further territorial losses.
“We will not accept any peace deal that compromises our sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity,” Zelenskiy stated in a recent interview. *”We expect our allies, especially the United States, to