Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Arrives in Saudi Arabia Ahead of Key US Summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday ahead of a high-stakes Ukraine-US summit set to take place in Jeddah.

While Zelenskyy himself won’t attend the meeting, his top officials will hold discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as Ukraine seeks to secure continued military aid and intelligence support from Washington. The negotiations come after a tense February 28 Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, which reportedly turned into an argument.

Saudi state television confirmed Zelenskyy’s arrival in Jeddah, where the Ukraine-US summit is scheduled for Tuesday. The Ukrainian delegation will include Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, while Rubio will lead the American team.

The outcome of these talks could significantly impact US-Ukraine relations, as Trump’s administration weighs its stance on military support. If an agreement is reached that satisfies Trump, it may accelerate efforts to push Ukraine toward peace negotiations with Russia—a move that has been met with skepticism by European leaders.

Meanwhile, the European Union has responded to Washington’s shifting position by bolstering its own defense capabilities and unlocking billions of euros in security funding to reduce reliance on US support.