On 11 March, the Ukrainian and American delegations began their meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
The talks come amid US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military support for Kyiv and the halt of intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a public dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.
UPDATE 11:46 PM: Next week, discussions will begin on the details of a ceasefire, said Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration, per UkrInform.
“Next week, we have already agreed that at the technical expert level, teams will start talking about all the details,” claimed Yermak.
According to him, during the meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Jeddah, various security guarantees were discussed.
“We considered different options today, and different options are on the table. Since these consultations and negotiations are still ongoing, I wouldn’t want to speak about any specifics today. But these must certainly be guarantees that will prevent any aggression in the future,” said Yermak.
The head of Ukraine’s President’s Office noted that the security guarantees are being discussed with the involvement of both the US and European partners.
“We clearly understand what we need. Our American partners understand this. They approach this issue with understanding, but these talks are ongoing. Today, we made the first very important step, and there’s still a lot of work ahead,” Yermak concluded.
Additionally, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov mentioned during the briefing that there are framework agreements in place, and the Ukrainian team continues to communicate with the American representatives at the operational level.
UPDATE 11:40 PM: Deputy Head of the President’s Office Pavlo Palytsa stated that security assistance from the US has been restored.
“I have confirmation that security assistance from the US has been restored. Agreements are beginning to be implemented. The fight continues!” Palytsa said.
Ukraine is highly dependent on a vast number of US weapons and military support. For instance, the country required Patriot air defense missiles and systems to protect itself from Russia’s ballistic missiles.
UPDATE 8:15 PM: Today, Ukraine made significant strides toward restoring lasting peace, said Andrii Yermak, top Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s aide.
“Representatives of both countries highly praised the courage of the Ukrainian people, who defend their state, and agreed that it is now time to begin the process of establishing enduring peace,” he said after talks in Saudi Arabia.
According to Yermak, Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept the US proposal for an immediate, temporary 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement, provided it is accepted and simultaneously implemented by Russia.
“The US will communicate to Russia that reciprocity from their side is key to achieving peace. The US will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine,” he confirmed.
Yermak also said that the delegations discussed the importance of humanitarian efforts, including during the ceasefire period, such as prisoner exchanges, the release of detained civilians, and the return of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children.
“Finally, the presidents of both countries agreed to expedite a comprehensive agreement on the development of Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to strengthen the Ukrainian economy and ensure long-term prosperity and security,” he added.
UPDATE 8:10 PM: The US “will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine,” said the US and Ukraine delegations in a joint statement at the meeting in Saudi Arabia, according to CNN.
Ukraine has also “expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.”
UPDATE 7:40 PM: The Ukrainian and American delegations, holding negotiations in Jeddah, will present a joint statement outlining the content of the talks, according to the Financial Times.
“The talks are not scheduled to continue for a second day,” said the report.
UPDATE 7:30 PM: The American delegation is quite optimistic about the meeting between representatives from Ukraine and the US in Saudi Arabia. “Fantastic news with humanity” is expected, said US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on X.
“Very exciting day. A day that could mean a lot for all people around the world when it comes to what’s important. I will keep you advised and updated based on what happens, as often that I can. So other fantastic news with humanity might emerge, so we are very optimistic,” Bruce said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also staying in Saudi Arabia, though he will not be involved in the peace talks.
UPDATE 4:50 PM: US Presidential Advisor Michael Waltz gave a brief comment on the meeting between the American and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia, CNN reports.
During a break in the negotiations, when asked by the journalists about the progress of the talks, Waltz responded: “getting there.”
The discussions between the delegations have now entered their fourth hour.
UPDATE 2:23 PM: Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration, says the meeting with the US officials started “very constructively.”
“We are working on bringing a just and lasting peace closer,” he added.
UPDATE 2:00 PM: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged Ukrainians and Americans not to “waste this chance” while commenting on the negotiations between Ukraine and the US in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Dear Americans, dear Ukrainians, don’t waste this chance. The whole world is watching you in Jeddah today. Good luck!” he wrote on social media.
UPDATE 1:00 PM: The Ukrainian delegation includes Head of the Presidential Office Andrii Yermak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, and Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palytsa.
The US delegation is represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.
“The key topics of the meeting will be the path to peace and bilateral relations between Ukraine and the US,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah ahead of talks between Ukrainian and US officials.
Zelenskyy meets Saudi crown prince ahead of Ukraine-US talks
During the meeting, the crown prince underscored Saudi Arabia’s support for international efforts to resolve Ukraine’s crisis and achieve peace.
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