Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels to Saudi Arabia for talks on Ukraine as President Trump considers lifting the freeze on military aid. The meetings aim to advance peace negotiations amidst ongoing conflict, with significant implications for U.S. foreign policy and regional alliances as Rubio heads to G7 discussions in Canada thereafter.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarked on a trip to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to engage in discussions regarding Ukraine, particularly in light of President Donald Trump’s considerations about resuming military and intelligence support halted earlier this year. Following this visit, Rubio is slated to attend meetings with the Group of Seven (G7) in Canada, marking his first significant use of this diplomatic platform since Trump’s return to office.
During his three-day meetings in Jeddah, Rubio aims to “advance the president’s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war,” according to State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. Notably, she refrained from using the term “Russian invasion of Ukraine,” which was commonly referenced by previous U.S. administrations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is confirmed to attend the discussions in Jeddah, alongside Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff. Rubio left Miami’s Homestead Air Base at approximately 8:00 PM local time. Trump expressed optimism about potential positive developments in Saudi Arabia, indicating, “I think we are going to have a good result in Saudi Arabia… and I think some very big things could happen this week. I hope so.”
After a contentious meeting with Zelensky on February 28, where Trump suspended aid following grievances over perceived disloyalty, Zelensky is now prepared to sign an agreement transferring part of Ukraine’s mineral wealth to the U.S. to mitigate costs to American taxpayers. In response, Keith Kellogg, the U.S. envoy on Russia and Ukraine, indicated support for resuming aid contingent upon Zelensky’s signature on this deal.
However, reports suggest that Trump would seek additional assurances beyond the minerals agreement before reinstating support and insisted Ukraine has not demonstrated sufficient willingness for peace: “Right now they haven’t shown it to the extent that they should.”
Meanwhile, European leaders are scrambling to fill the void left by the U.S. withdrawal of aid, while Zelensky continues to assert that Washington’s security guarantees are irreplaceable in any negotiation with Russia. Amid ongoing Russian aggression and threats from Trump to impose stricter sanctions on Russia, Rubio has recently re-engaged with senior Russian officials, outlining the need for economic cooperation post-conflict.
In addition to his meetings in Jeddah, Rubio will confer with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and advocate for Saudi recognition of Israel, a challenging agenda given the current Gaza conflict. Rubio’s subsequent visit to Quebec for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting aims to focus on advancing U.S. objectives in global peace and stability while avoiding talk of previous tensions with Canada.
In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s diplomatic visit to Saudi Arabia seeks to facilitate discussions on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict while exploring potential resumption of U.S. aid. President Trump’s critical stance on Ukraine’s commitment to peace complicates these negotiations, with implications for both international relations and regional stability. Key discussions will occur with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and at the G7 in Canada, highlighting the importance of maintaining strong alliances amid geopolitical tensions.
Original Source: www.insidenova.com
