US, Ukraine resume talks in Jeddah after brief break UPDATED

The United States and Ukraine have resumed crucial discussions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after a brief break, senior White House reporter for CBS News Jennifer Jacobs said. 

The talks, which are seen as pivotal in shaping the future of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, are ongoing and involve key Ukrainian officials, including the head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, Caliber.Az reports.

Jacobs reported that the meeting, which initially lasted over three hours, was followed by a break of more than half an hour before the discussions recommenced. She added that sources close to the talks confirmed the continuation of negotiations at the end of the first round.

The discussions are part of a broader diplomatic effort to address the ongoing conflict with Russia and explore potential solutions to end the war. This latest round of talks comes amidst heightened international scrutiny, with key issues such as security guarantees and territorial integrity likely to be high on the agenda.

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Ukrainian and US officials convened in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah on March 11 for crucial talks aimed at finding a pathway to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, just hours after Ukraine launched its largest drone attack on Moscow to date.

This meeting comes amid growing tension between Ukraine and the US, following a recent clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, which led to a suspension of US military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, Caliber.Az reports via Arabian media.

Zelenskyy, eager to repair ties with Washington, sees the talks as an opportunity to revive “pragmatic” relations and is proposing an initial truce with Russia, focused on halting air and sea attacks. The Ukrainian leader hopes this would align with Trump’s goal of ending the war swiftly, after the US president had accused Zelenskyy of being unprepared for peace talks and pursued direct dialogue with Russia.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff and head of the Ukrainian delegation, shared positive feedback, stating, “The meeting has begun very constructively” in a Telegram post. This diplomatic effort is closely watched by Ukraine's European allies, who are eager for any signs of improvement or deterioration in relations with the US under Trump’s leadership. The US has recently paused military aid to Ukraine, and European leaders like British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have expressed hope that this could be reversed following the Jeddah talks.

The timing of the diplomatic discussions coincides with a dramatic escalation in the war. In the early hours of the same day, Ukraine launched its largest drone assault on Moscow, deploying 91 drones. The attack resulted in at least three fatalities, sparked fires, and led to airport closures, marking the most significant strike on the Russian capital to date. According to Russian officials, 337 drones were downed, and Moscow claimed the attack targeted civilian infrastructure, though Ukraine views the strike as retaliation for Russia's own missile and drone strikes.

Ukrainian forces continue to face heavy pressure on the battlefield, particularly in the Kursk region, where Russian forces are intensifying their efforts to push out Kyiv's troops. Amid this backdrop, Zelenskyy remains firm in his stance that Ukraine cannot negotiate with Russia from a position of weakness.

Ahead of the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that understanding Ukraine’s willingness to make concessions would be critical to any potential ceasefire. "We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they’d be willing to make, because you’re not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions," Rubio said.

In response to a question from CNN regarding how the talks were progressing, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz replied succinctly, “getting there.” His comment, though brief, suggests that while the discussions are ongoing, progress may be gradual.

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Ukrainian and US delegates have started crucial talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 11, a meeting expected to significantly influence Washington's future support for Kyiv and any potential steps toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

"A meeting of the Ukrainian and American delegations begins in Jeddah," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced. The Ukrainian delegation includes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, and Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa. The US delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Caliber.Az reports citing Ukrainian media.

The high-stakes meeting follows a tense exchange between Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump during a February 28 meeting in the Oval Office. The spat led to the suspension of all US military aid and the restriction of intelligence support to Ukraine, threatening the country's ability to effectively resist Russia’s aggressive military actions.

Ukrainian officials are expected to push for the resumption of US military aid and intelligence sharing during the Jeddah talks. Additionally, Ukraine is reportedly proposing a ceasefire in the air and at sea as the first step toward a peaceful settlement.

Zelenskyy, who visited Saudi Arabia on March 10 to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will not participate in the discussions with the US delegation.

While traveling to Jeddah, Rubio stressed that Ukraine would need to make territorial concessions as part of any potential peaceful resolution. He stated, "The most important thing that we have to leave here with is a strong sense that Ukraine is prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form."

In addition to addressing military aid and territorial issues, the talks may also see progress on a minerals deal that has been on hold since the White House confrontation.

US officials have previously met with Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia on February 18 and in Istanbul on February 27 to discuss restoring bilateral relations and holding preliminary peace talks without Ukraine’s involvement. The ongoing discussions in Jeddah represent a crucial moment for both nations, as they work to shape the future course of the conflict.

By Vafa Guliyeva