US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (2nd L), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (L), Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (3rd R), Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak (2nd R), and Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerovto (R) hold a meeting in the presence of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (3L) and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban,  in Jeddah on Tuesday  —AFP

Agencies JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia)

Senior US and Ukrainian officials  met in Saudi Arabia  on Tuesday for crunch talks focused on ending the war with Russia, aiming to build confidence despite a personal crisis between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Although the two Presidents will be absent, Zelenskyy has sent his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, while Trump dispatched his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the US national security adviser, Mike Waltz, to Jeddah, said the Guardian.

“We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,” BBC quoted Yermak telling reporters as he arrived for the talks, held in an opulent room provided by the Gulf state. As he went in for the  meeting, Ukrainian top aide to Zelensky, Andriy Yerma said they will still seek security guarantees, but he added that Tuesday  is more about a constructive process for how to move towards a ceasefire.

Asked what he expects  from the talks, US Secretary of State Rubio  said, "It will be good."  Zelenksyy, who was also in Jeddah to meet the crown prince but not in the room for the talks, had  earlier  said Ukraine’s position would be “fully constructive”. On his flight out, Rubio said Washington’s main aim was to see if Kyiv was “prepared to do difficult things, like the Russians are going to have to do difficult things, to end this conflict or at least pause it in some way, shape or form”.

The stakes could not be higher for Ukraine, with the prospect of US military aid and intelligence-sharing being restarted if the talks go well.  The talks reflect a new diplomatic push after an unprecedented argument erupted during Zelenskyy’s February  28 visit to the White House. Ukrainian officials told The Associated Press on Monday that they will propose a ceasefire covering the Black Sea, which would bring safer shipping, as well end  to long-range missile strikes that have hit civilians in Ukraine.