Zelenskyy meets Saudi crown prince in Jeddah

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, marking a significant diplomatic engagement ahead of crucial talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials aimed at progressing toward ending Russia's war with Ukraine.

During the meeting, the Saudi Crown Prince emphasized the kingdom's support for international peace efforts regarding Ukraine's crisis. Saudi Arabia has played an important mediating role since Russia's invasion, including brokering prisoner exchanges and hosting recent Moscow-Washington talks.

The discussions in Saudi Arabia represent the first official session since a controversial meeting at the White House that reportedly ended in discord. According to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Zelenskyy has since apologized to former President Donald Trump following what was described as a heated exchange in the Oval Office last month. Witkoff said that "Zelensky sent a letter to the president. He apologised for that whole incident," noting this was "an important step" amid ongoing discussions between American, Ukrainian, and European teams.

Zelenskyy's agenda in Saudi Arabia includes proposing a "sky and sea" truce with Russia—essentially a naval and aerial cease-fire that would be more easily implemented and monitored than a comprehensive agreement. The Ukrainian delegation is also expected to discuss proposals regarding Black Sea security, long-range missile restrictions, prisoner releases, and potential U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals.

Following the meeting with bin Salman, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the Crown Prince's "wise perspective on global affairs and support for Ukraine," acknowledging Saudi Arabia's role as "a crucial platform for diplomacy."

The Saudi-hosted discussions represent a critical juncture in Ukraine's diplomatic efforts to navigate complex geopolitical relationships while seeking pathways to resolving the ongoing conflict.