US‑Ukraine talks in Riyadh: A new chapter in aid diplomacy
On Wednesday, March 12, a meeting between the US and Ukrainian delegations is set to take place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, according to reports from an Axios journalist. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also mentioned on Thursday that a delegation meeting is expected next week.
Israeli journalist Barak Ravid from Axios wrote on the platform X that the meeting will occur this coming Wednesday in Riyadh. He added that this was agreed upon on March 5 during a conversation between Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, and Michael Waltz, US Presidential Advisor and national security advisor to Donald Trump.
Waltz stated on Wednesday that matters are heading in the right direction and he expects rapid changes regarding the suspension of military and intelligence aid to Ukraine, recently announced by the United States.
As previously reported by Fox News, along with Waltz, the delegation is expected to include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. According to Fox News, the meeting could take place on Tuesday, March 11.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also mentioned in Brussels on Thursday that a meeting between the delegations of both countries will occur next week, stating that teams from both countries "have resumed work" and expressing hope that "a meaningful meeting will take place next week."
A format similar to that with Russia
The meeting is to take place in the same venue and in a similar format as the meetings between the US and Russian delegations in February. On Thursday, Special Representative for Ukraine and Russia Gen. Keith Kellogg, who is not listed as a delegation member, stated that the US received a list of conditions from Russia and knows where it stands, but has not received the same from Ukraine.
He also said he would personally advocate for resuming support for Kyiv only after the signing of a natural resources agreement with the country.
US suspends support
Let us recall that media reported on Wednesday that the United States has cut off a critical intelligence link for alerts on Russian missile strikes. Previously, they stopped sending targeting data for the American HIMARS artillery rocket system and coordinates needed for striking targets with ATACMS missiles located more than 60 kilometres behind the front line.
Meanwhile, a White House representative confirmed on Monday in a statement to the media that President Donald Trump halted all military assistance to Ukraine "to ensure that it is contributing to a solution" about the conflict.
"The President has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution," stated the White House representative.
"Very candidly, they brought it on themselves," said Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg on Thursday, when asked during a Council of Foreign Relations (CFR) conference about the suspension of military and intelligence support for Ukraine. He added that he warned President Zelensky that this might be a consequence of his actions.
