Rubio views Ukraine’s partial ceasefire plan as promising before Saudi Arabia talks

US Diplomat Backs Ukraine’s Peace Efforts

Ukraine’s proposal for a temporary ceasefire to end the three-year conflict with Russia has drawn cautious optimism from the United States’ top diplomat. The remarks precede high-level discussions between Ukrainian and US officials in Saudi Arabia.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Monday, “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.” 

Ukraine’s Proposal for Aerial and Naval Truce

According to a Ukrainian official who spoke to AFP, Kyiv intends to suggest an air and naval truce with Russia during Tuesday’s talks. But Russia has repeatedly rejected the idea of a short-term truce, saying it is only a ploy to buy time and keep Ukraine’s military from collapsing.

Zelensky’s Meeting with Saudi Leadership

In order to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday. Zelensky is not anticipated to play a formal part in the US-Ukraine talks despite his presence.

Zelensky’s head of office, Andriy Yermak, will lead the Ukrainian delegation, which will also include a number of foreign and defense ministers and the national security adviser. 

US Representation at the Talks

U.S. Middle East ambassador Steve Witkoff, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will represent the United States.

Rubio stressed the need to make clear Ukraine’s position on a possible peace agreement prior to his arrival in Jeddah.

“It’s important to establish clearly Ukraine’s intentions for a peace deal,” Rubio said. “They have to be prepared to do difficult things, just as the Russians will have to make tough choices to end this.”

“We want to listen to how far they’re willing to go, compare that to what the Russians want, and then see how far apart we truly are,” he said, without imposing any preconditions on Ukraine. 

Diplomatic Solutions Over Military Ones

Rubio emphasized that all sides must acknowledge the need for diplomatic talks and that there is no military solution to the situation.

“There’s no military solution to this war,” he stated. “It can only be resolved through diplomatic means.” 

US Pressures Ukraine Amid Aid Suspension

Without providing any specific US security guarantees, former President Donald Trump is putting more pressure on Zelensky to accept a truce with Russia during these negotiations.

Additionally, the meeting is the first formal US-Ukraine interaction since tensions erupted during Zelensky’s recent, contentious visit to the White House. The US halted military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv after that meeting, which was seen as an attempt to persuade Zelensky to engage in talks.

While acknowledging the aid suspension, Rubio made a suggestion that it might be lifted based on the talks on Tuesday.

“The pause in aid happened because we felt that Ukraine was not committed to any sort of peace process,” Rubio said. “If that changes, obviously our posture can change too.”

He continued, “The President will use every tool at his disposal to get both sides to the table and bring this war to an end.” 

Hope for Progress and Future Deals

In his optimistic assessment of the next negotiations, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said he anticipates “substantial progress.”

Witkoff told Fox News, “I am really hopeful,” in response to a question about whether Zelensky would visit the US later this week to complete a minerals deal. Every indication is quite encouraging.

In the past, Zelensky has expressed interest in signing a minerals agreement with the United States that would establish a joint fund through the selling of minerals from Ukraine.

Witkoff pointed out that territorial concerns and security procedures for Ukraine will also be discussed in the Saudi Arabian negotiations. For defense reasons, he said, the United States has not stopped exchanging intelligence.

Trump claimed to have “just about” lifted the halt on exchanging intelligence with Ukraine in an interview with Fox News on Sunday. 

International Support

Prior to the Saudi negotiations, Trump also had a conversation with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Starmer expressed his optimism for a successful resolution that would enable the United States to start providing Ukraine with aid and information sharing, according to Downing Street. 

The Ongoing Conflict

In February 2022, Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and as of right now, it controls about 5% of Ukrainian territory, including the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

With hopes that diplomatic progress may put an end to the catastrophic fighting, the world is now anxiously watching the unfolding of the pivotal Saudi Arabian negotiations.