Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking a pivotal moment in international efforts to end the war with Russia. This visit comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between Ukrainian and US officials, as Kyiv faces mounting pressure amid shifting US wartime policies.
In a notable change of course, the United States — once Ukraine’s staunchest ally — has recently recalibrated its approach by engaging directly with Moscow and reducing military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. This new posture underscores an urgent push for a rapid end to the conflict, even as Ukraine’s battlefield position grows increasingly precarious.
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Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key mediator since Russia’s 2022 invasion, brokering prisoner exchanges and hosting discussions between Moscow and Washington as recently as last month. In his upcoming meeting, Zelenskyy is expected to leverage Riyadh’s mediating role to help forge a framework for a lasting ceasefire and eventual peace agreement.
Meanwhile, Tuesday’s talks between US and Ukrainian officials — the first high-level meeting since a contentious Oval Office encounter between Zelenskyy and former US President Donald Trump — are anticipated to focus on a bilateral minerals deal and strategic steps toward ending the war. Under intense pressure from Trump, who has repeatedly called for a swift resolution to the conflict, Zelenskyy has sought to demonstrate unity and readiness for dialogue despite not securing key US security guarantees that Kyiv considers essential.