Trump Pushes Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Strained Ties

U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss potential concessions in President Donald Trump’s push for a swift end to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Since taking office in January, Trump has shifted U.S. policy, halting military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv while engaging directly with Moscow.

Tensions escalated after a heated exchange between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last month, straining relations and stalling a minerals deal that Trump sees as essential for continued U.S. support. The deal, worth billions, was intended to compensate for the $65 billion in U.S. military aid provided since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

With Ukraine under pressure to demonstrate a commitment to peace, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the need for both sides to make concessions for a ceasefire. Accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Rubio met top Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, though Zelenskiy was absent. Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism about finalizing the minerals deal and is set to visit Moscow for further discussions with President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine’s European allies warn against premature negotiations, arguing that peace should come from a position of strength. Zelenskiy insists that Putin has no interest in peace and cautions that Russia could target other European nations if not decisively defeated. While Rubio refrained from detailing potential compromises, he acknowledged Ukraine’s challenge in regaining all lost territory.

Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, annexed in 2014, and continues its offensive in the Donetsk region. February talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia signaled an attempt to restore diplomatic engagement after years of frozen ties under former President Joe Biden.