Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, will visit Saudi Arabia for U.S.-Ukraine talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war while concurrently meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Following this, he will attend the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada. Discussions emphasize a quick resolution and security guarantees for Ukraine.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday to hold U.S.-Ukraine discussions aimed at facilitating a resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. During his time in Jeddah, he is also expected to confer with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to explore mutual interests and bolster U.S.-Saudi relations, as stated by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
In a communication with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Rubio has emphasized President Trump’s commitment to achieving a rapid conclusion to the war, urging all parties to take measures towards establishing lasting peace. Concurrently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is slated to meet with the Saudi Crown Prince.
A Ukrainian delegation, led by Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, will remain in Saudi Arabia for discussions with U.S. officials. This team will also include Foreign Minister Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and military commander Pavlo Palisa. Rubio will collaborate with U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in these talks.
Witkoff has indicated that the objective is to establish a framework for a peace agreement along with an initial ceasefire. The U.S.-Ukraine discussions will occur shortly after a meeting between senior U.S. officials and their Russian counterparts in Riyadh, highlighting ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Ukraine has expressed its unwavering commitment to constructive dialogue with the U.S., aiming to achieve consensus on critical decisions and actions. President Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s desire for peace since the onset of the conflict and stressed the importance of expedient measures, noting, “Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively.” Following the Saudi visit, Rubio will attend the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Charlevoix, Canada, from March 12 to 14, reinforcing international cooperation towards peace.
In the aftermath of a recent meeting at the Munich Security Conference, G7 foreign ministers reiterated their commitment to fostering a lasting peace in Ukraine and emphasized the necessity for robust security guarantees. They clarified that any potential sanctions after February should correlate with Russia’s genuine efforts to conclude hostilities with Ukraine.
In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia for U.S.-Ukraine discussions and subsequent attendance at the G7 meeting in Canada signifies the U.S. commitment to finding a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Through diplomatic dialogues, both parties are focusing on sustainable peace mechanisms while fostering U.S.-Saudi relations. As emphasized by President Zelenskyy, prompt and effective actions towards peace remain paramount in this ongoing dialogue.
Original Source: www.voanews.com