US, Ukraine To Sit For Peace Talks In Saudi Next Week: What’s On The Table For Russia, Europe?

Last Updated:March 09, 2025, 08:24 IST

The United States and Ukraine will hold a key meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, raising hopes for the beginning of peace talks.

US, Ukraine to meet next week In Saudi Arabia (Reuters Image)

As the US and Ukraine are all set to hold talks in Saudi Arabia next week in a bid to amend ties that went off track due to the Trump- Zelenskyy fallout, all eyes will be on the negotiations to end the war with Russia.

On February 28, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in an ugly exchange of words at the White House – a fight that became a rare spectacle for the world to see – pushing Europe into going out in “search of a new leader" and huddling in London to back Ukraine.

Ahead of the US-Ukraine meet next week, let’s see what’s on the plate.

United States’ View

The United States, which held a lone meeting with the Russians in Saudi Arabia earlier without the involvement of Ukraine, has followed up the spat between the two leaders with the suspension of military and intelligence aid to the latter – a move that’s being seen as a pressure tactic on Zelenskyy to sign the minerals deal with the US and cede to an immediate ceasefire.

However, the week is coming to its closure with a more conciliatory tone from some of Trump’s top foreign policy team members who will meet with Ukrainians next week in Saudi Arabia, BBC reported.

On Friday, though Trump threatened to impose more sanctions on Moscow until the peace deal, hours later, he said that he believed Putin to end the war.

“I believe him. I’m finding it more difficult frankly to deal with Ukraine, and they don’t have the cards. It may be easier dealing with Russia," Trump told reporters at the Oval Office.

“I’ve always had a good relationship with Putin. And you know, he wants to end the war," he added.

Russia’s View Amid Continued Attacks On Ukraine

Trump’s decision to suspend American military aid and intelligence to Ukraine has come as one of the worst setbacks for Kyiv since the start of the war in 2022, boosting Russian chances in the conflict. Moscow has carried on attacks across Ukraine, prompting Trump to threaten sanctions.

The continuation of the “special military operation" in Ukraine suggests that the original objectives must be achieved with the capture of more Ukrainian land.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks this week that Trump’s USA may no longer be “on our side" are music to Vladimir Putin’s ears, too, BBC reported.

The spectacle of cracks appearing in the Western alliance has reached Moscow – a situation that Russia has been attempting for years, if not decades.

Russia will be keeping a keen watch as the US and Ukrainian representatives sit down for talks in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday, hoping to get the upper hand as a foundation is laid for the potential peace negotiations.

Zelenskyy Gears Up For Fresh Talks With US

Zelenskyy, who was accused of disrespecting the US and the White House during his spat with Trump, recently said that war with Russia is very far from over – an accusation that the US President has been making that his Ukrainian counterpart “is not ready for peace".

However, as the US and Ukraine sit for talks in Saudi Arabia next week, hopes will be high to bring the talks on track and begin some peace negotiations.

Zelenskyy had penned a letter to Trump, calling their White House showdown “regrettable", however, he refused to issue an “explicit public apology".

Seeking to counter the damage, Zelenskyy met the European leaders who also displayed solidarity with him publicly. However, he did not get the firm military commitments he was hopeful about.

The path to peace remains uncertain before the meeting between the US and Ukraine, the report said.

How Does Europe See US Withdrawal Of Support To Ukraine?

Since the White House fight last month, Europe has reached a consensus that Europe needs to come out to help Ukraine. Aiming to bring those willing to help, France and the UK have offered a “coalition of the willing" to put on the ground a peace deal, which would then have been discussed with the US.

Macron will bring together army chiefs on Tuesday to work on a plan.

Europe faces pressing questions about its defence amid a “clear and present danger," as warned by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.

With uncertainty over US support, the EU is considering a multi-billion-euro defence plan. Germany’s Friedrich Merz suggests expanding the UK and France’s nuclear deterrent, an idea Macron is open to, though France’s control remains firm.

The core issue: Can Europe defend itself without the US? For smaller nations like Lithuania, reliance on allies is essential. Meanwhile, Poland’s Donald Tusk argued Europe would be safer with its own nuclear arsenal.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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