U.S.-Ukraine Talks in Saudi Arabia: Aiming to Resolve Aid Pause

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Saudi Arabia to engage in talks aimed at resolving the pause in military aid to Ukraine. With key Ukrainian officials present, the discussions will explore potential concessions while acknowledging the need for both diplomacy and military strength in achieving peace. Although there is interest in Ukraine’s mineral resources, Rubio has clarified that it is not the focal point of the negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States aims to address the pause in aid to Ukraine during upcoming discussions with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Rubio stated that the U.S. is focused on understanding potential concessions from Ukraine.

During a media briefing while en route to Jeddah, Rubio remarked, “The Ukrainians are already receiving all defensive intelligence information as we speak. I think all the notion of the pause in aid broadly is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that.” He emphasized that there is no military remedy to the conflict, highlighting the need for both Russia and Ukraine to undertake challenging decisions.

On the same day, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Rubio in Jeddah, following his earlier meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh. The next day, Rubio will participate in talks alongside U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz, with involvement from significant Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskyy’s chief of staff and foreign minister.

In light of ongoing discussions, President Donald Trump has suggested that continued military aid should be linked to access to Ukraine’s raw materials, which are critical to the U.S. economy and national defense. However, Rubio clarified that focusing on securing Ukraine’s mineral resources is not the main aim of the discussions: “It’s an important topic, but it’s not the main topic on the agenda.”

Rubio acknowledged the positive contributions of Britain and France in the diplomatic talks regarding Ukraine and noted that there had not been conversations about China’s role in any potential peacekeeping or reconstruction efforts. This visit marks Rubio’s second trip to Saudi Arabia since he assumed office, following previous discussions with Russian officials.

In conclusion, the United States, represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is actively seeking to resolve the pause in aid to Ukraine through discussions with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. While the potential conditionality of aid related to Ukraine’s mineral resources has been suggested, Rubio has emphasized that this is not the primary focus of the upcoming negotiations. The significance of strong diplomatic efforts alongside military positioning is underscored as both countries cope with the complexities of the ongoing conflict.

Original Source: www.voanews.com