Washington: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, March 10, to engage in discussions with Ukrainian officials. The visit comes as President Donald Trump pushes for an end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Secretary Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss shared regional interests and strengthen U.S.-Saudi relations.
The State Department reported that on Friday, Rubio spoke via phone with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, reaffirming President Trump’s commitment to ending the war. Rubio stressed that all parties must take steps toward lasting peace.
On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also visit Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Following this, a high-level Ukrainian diplomatic and military delegation, led by Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, will meet with U.S. officials. The Ukrainian delegation will include Defense Minister and the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
Secretary Rubio will be accompanied by U.S. National Security Advisor and President Trump’s Special Envoy for the Middle East, Vitkov. In a statement to reporters, Vitkov emphasized that the goal is to establish a framework for a ceasefire and a potential peace agreement.
Three weeks ago, U.S. officials held talks with Russian counterparts in Riyadh. Ukraine has expressed its full commitment to constructive negotiations with the U.S. and hopes for agreements on key decisions and necessary measures.
On Sunday, President Zelensky reiterated his stance on seeking peace since the first day of the war, urging for swift and effective action.
Following his meetings in Saudi Arabia, Secretary Rubio will travel to Charlevoix, Canada, to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Summit from March 12 to 14.
Last month, after the Munich Security Conference, the G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to achieving sustainable peace in Ukraine.
