US, Ukraine to hold peace talks in Saudi Arabia next week, s
US, Ukraine to hold peace talks in Saudi Arabia next week, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he would travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ahead of diplomatic-level talks later in the week with US officials.
KYIV — Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he would travel to Saudi Arabia on
Monday for a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ahead of
diplomatic-level talks later in the week with US officials.
"Next week, on Monday, my visit to Saudi Arabia is
planned to meet the Crown Prince. After that, my team will remain in Saudi
Arabia to work with our American partners. Ukraine is most interested in
peace," Zelensky said.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff,
said earlier on Thursday that a meeting with the Ukrainians was planned for
next week in Saudi Arabia. He also said discussions were underway with Kyiv for
a peace agreement framework and an initial ceasefire.
Witkoff said that Trump was pleased by Zelensky's letter
after last Friday's disastrous meeting in the White House.
"He felt that Zelensky's letter was a very positive
first step. There was an apology. There was an acknowledgement that the United
States has done so much for the country of Ukraine and a sense of
gratitude," he added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others are expected to
depart for Riyadh on Tuesday to attend the meeting, which will include Andriy
Yermak, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski, media reported.
Donald Trump said he would visit the Kingdom probably over
the next month and a half but did not mention a date.
"I'm going to Saudi Arabia. I said, I'll go if you pay
a trillion dollars, $1 trillion to American companies, (spreading) the purchase
over a four-year period, of a trillion dollars. They've agreed to do that, so
I'm going to be going there," Trump said, suggesting a major investment
deal with Saudi Arabia.
The meeting signals a warming in US and Ukraine relations
since the Oval Office blow-up between Trump and Zelensky last week.
Following the row, the US cut off military aid for Ukraine
and shut down intelligence sharing with the Ukrainian armed forces.
The announcement came as Zelensky met European Union leaders
for an emergency summit in Brussels on the Russia-Ukraine war and security in
Europe.
The European Union leaders backed new defence spending plans
aimed at freeing up billions of euros for the continent's security after the
Trump administration signalled that Europe would have to fend for itself in
future.
The 27 leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget
restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military
spending.
They also urged the European Commission to explore new ways
"to facilitate significant defence spending at national level in all
Member States," a statement said.
The EU's executive branch estimates that around 650 billion
euros ($AUS1.1 billion) could be freed up in this way.
Several East European leaders at the summit also welcomed
French President Emmanueal Macron's plan of sharing his country's nuclear force
to deter attacks.
But it was dismissed by the Russian government as
"extremely confrontational".
The EU's 27 leaders on Thursday greenlit a plan drawn up by
the European Commission that aims to mobilize €800 billion to "rearm
Europe" against the perceived threat from Russia.
At the EU summit, Zelensky told EU leaders that Ukrainian
and American negotiators had "resumed work," and that "we hope
that next week we will have a meaningful meeting". He thanked EU leaders
for standing by Kyiv, with America's outreach to Russia raising fears Ukraine
could be forced into an unfavourable deal.
"We are very thankful that we are not alone," said
the Ukrainian leader.
Thursday's European summit comes a week after a White House
blow-up between Trump and Zelensky led Washington to cut the military aid and
intelligence sharing that has helped Kyiv fight off Russia's invasion.
