In an effort to mend strained relations, senior officials from the Trump administration are set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Saudi Arabia next week. The high-stakes diplomatic talks come as Ukraine seeks to rebuild its ties with Washington following last week’s tense Oval Office confrontation, which led to a suspension of U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing.
The meeting, expected to take place in either Riyadh or Jeddah, will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and national security adviser Mike Waltz, according to Witkoff. He emphasized that the primary objective is to establish a framework for a ceasefire and potential peace agreement.
Zelenskyy confirmed the summit via a post on X, stating that it would follow his scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Ukraine remains committed to peace,” he wrote, reaffirming Kyiv’s willingness to engage constructively.
European Allies Step Up Amid U.S. Uncertainty
As Washington’s support for Ukraine falters, NATO allies in Europe have pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in new military spending to fill the gap. This comes as Trump’s administration reassesses NATO commitments, with officials suggesting a policy shift favoring allies that increase their defense expenditures.
Meanwhile, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s power grid Thursday night, leaving ten people injured and causing widespread blackouts. Ukrainian authorities have urged civilians to conserve energy in response.
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