Senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire in the war with Russia, two sources with knowledge of the meeting said.
Why it matters: It will be the first high-level meeting between the countries since the public spat between President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week.
- The clash led to an unprecedented crisis between the U.S. and Ukraine and to the suspension of U.S. weapons shipments and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Driving the news: The meeting in Saudi Arabia comes after a similar meeting U.S. officials had with their Russian counterparts in Riyadh two weeks ago.
- That meeting created anxiety and anger among Ukrainian leaders who were upset they weren’t invited to participate and heard about the meeting from media reports.
Behind the scenes: The upcoming meeting was scheduled on Wednesday during a phone call between White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, one source said.
- The meeting is expected to take place in Riyadh with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to join Waltz, the two sources said. Yermak will lead the Ukrainian delegation.
- Zelensky is expected to visit Saudi Arabia next Monday and Tuesday and meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a Ukrainian official.
The latest: Witkoff confirmed in a briefing with reporters at the White House on Thursday that the meeting will take place in Saudi Arabia and said it will focus on getting an initial ceasefire and a framework for a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
- Witkoff said Trump saw Zelensky’s letter “as a good first step — there was an apology and acknowledgment that the U.S. has done so much for Ukraine and a sense of gratitude.”
- The meeting will be either in Riyadh or Jedda, according to Witkoff. “I think it [will] be a good meeting. Hopefully it would be a good signal to the Russians,” he said.
What they’re saying: Zelensky said on Thursday in Brussels that Ukraine and the U.S. “have resumed work” and expressed hope that “a meaningful meeting will take place next week.”
- The White House and Yermak’s office didn’t comment.
What to watch: Ukrainian officials say they are still ready to sign the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal that Zelensky and Trump were supposed to sign on Friday but was put on hold after their meeting in the Oval Office.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional details.
