Ukraine to propose sky, sea truce at US talks in Saudi, says official

KYIV/JEDDAH – Kyiv will propose an aerial and naval ceasefire with Russia during talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia this week, a Ukrainian official told AFP on March 10 as President Volodymyr Zelensky was due to arrive in the kingdom.

The talks on March 11 will be the first Ukraine-US meeting since a

White House blow-up between Mr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump

led to Washington halting military aid to Kyiv.

“We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea,” the official told AFP on March 10, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Because these are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor, and it’s possible to start with them.”

Ukrainian and US officials will meet in the Red Sea city of Jeddah to seek a way out of the conflict, more than three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

Britain’s Financial Times newspaper, citing a source briefed on preparations for the talks, said Kyiv would propose a partial ceasefire hoping that Washington would resume military aid and intelligence sharing.

Mr Zelensky on March 10 said Ukraine wants peace, insisting Russia was the sole reason that the war was carrying on.

“Ukraine has been seeking peace since the very first second of the war, and we have always said that the only reason that the war is continuing is because of Russia,” he wrote on social media.

Mr Zelensky will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi leader, on March 10, before his officials sit down with the Americans on March 11.

He said Ukraine is “fully committed to constructive dialogue” but wants its interests to be “taken into account in the right way”.

In his evening address on March 9, the Ukrainian President said: “We hope for results, both in terms of bringing peace closer and continuing support.”

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington wanted to use the talks “to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well”.

In Jeddah, the port city close to Islam’s holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, dozens of Ukrainian and Saudi flags flew on a main roundabout near the airport and on thoroughfares.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will fly there on March 10, the US State Department said. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has also confirmed his participation.

Mr Zelensky said his negotiators will include Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, his chief of staff Andriy Yermak and Mr Pavlo Palisa, a military commander and Mr Yermak’s deputy.

‘Significant advantage’

Washington has suspended military aid to Ukraine

as well as intelligence sharing

and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the table with Moscow, which launched its invasion in February 2022 on orders from President Vladimir Putin.

Russia could enjoy a “significant advantage” against Ukrainian troops if the US sustains its pause on sharing intelligence, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP.

“The main thing is how long it will last. If it lasts a long time, it will give the Russians a significant advantage,” the source said.

Mr Trump has renewed communications with Mr Putin and criticised Mr Zelensky, raising fears in Kyiv and among European allies that the US leader may try to force Ukraine to accept a settlement favouring Russia.

But on March 7, Mr Trump said he was considering further sanctions on Russia for “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield.

Ukraine’s European allies last week held a summit with Mr Zelensky and announced they would greatly increase defence spending.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host virtual talks on March 15 for the “coalition of the willing” to build on last week’s summit, his office said.

‘Regrettable’

The Saudi talks come after the White House clash that saw Mr Zelensky leave without signing a minerals deal demanded by Mr Trump.

Mr Zelensky later

called the incident “regrettable”

and said he was ready to work with Mr Trump’s “strong leadership”. He also expressed readiness to sign the deal.

Mr Witkoff said Mr Trump received a letter from Mr Zelensky, calling it “a very positive first step” and “an apology”.

When asked if Ukraine would sign the deal in Saudi Arabia, Mr Witkoff said: “I think Zelensky has offered to sign it, and we’ll see if he follows through.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Mr Rubio met in Riyadh in February, agreeing to resume dialogue and start talks on the Ukraine conflict.

Mr Zelensky has visited Saudi Arabia several times since Russia’s invasion in 2022 but postponed a trip in February, saying he was not invited to the Russia-US talks. AFP