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Zelensky in Saudi Arabia as US voices hope for Ukraine peace talks

Tuesday’s crunch Ukraine-US talks will be the first between the two sides since White House blow-up

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greeting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Saudi Press Agency via AFP

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of talks between Ukrainian and US officials that Washington hopes will deliver substantial progress towards ending Russia’s war with Ukraine.

During the meeting in Jeddah, the crown prince underscored the kingdom’s support for international efforts to resolve Ukraine’s crisis and achieving peace, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported early on Tuesday.

The United States, once Ukraine’s main ally, has upended its policy on the conflict in its stated pursuit of a rapid end to the fighting, engaging directly with Moscow while stopping military assistance and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, which Russian troops invaded at scale in 2022.

Grappling with the new approach in the White House, Ukraine has pushed for “pragmatic” relations after a disastrous Oval Office encounter between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump descended into acrimony last month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting with Saudi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting with Saudi’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

Saudi Arabia has played a mediating role since Russia’s invasion, including brokering prisoner exchanges and hosting last month’s talks between Moscow and Washington.

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