Zelenskyy visits Saudi Arabia as U.S. and Ukraine hold crucial war talks amid rising tensions with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Saudi Arabia on March 10, where he is scheduled to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler.

Zelenskyy’s visit comes just a day before crucial discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in the Saudi city of Jeddah, aimed at addressing Russia’s ongoing three-year war against Ukraine. The United States, Kyiv’s key military supporter, is pushing for a swift resolution to the conflict. As part of this effort, Washington has been engaging in direct talks with Moscow while simultaneously suspending military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine.

The U.S.-Ukrainian talks, scheduled for March 11, mark the first formal meeting between the two sides since a heated exchange in the Oval Office on February 28. That meeting saw Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Vice President J.D. Vance engaged in an argument, which resulted in the Ukrainian leader being publicly berated and asked to leave the White House.

Despite the significance of the Jeddah talks, Zelenskyy has stated that he will not be personally participating. Instead, Kyiv’s delegation will include Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. On the U.S. side, the delegation is expected to comprise Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and national security adviser Mike Waltz. Rubio departed for Saudi Arabia late on March 9 in preparation for the discussions.

"On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps," Zelenskyy wrote in a March 9 post on X. "Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively."

During the talks, Kyiv is expected to propose a peace plan laid out by Zelenskyy, which suggests implementing an air and sea truce as a crucial first step toward de-escalation.

Speaking to Fox News before departing the U.S., Witkoff expressed optimism about the upcoming discussions. "I think that we're going over there with an expectation that we're going to make substantial progress," he stated, adding that he was "really hopeful" about the potential outcomes.

Zelenskyy, however, is facing intense pressure from Washington to swiftly agree to a cease-fire with Russia, despite the absence of any U.S. security guarantees. Moscow, on the other hand, has shown little interest in halting hostilities, as it continues to ramp up attacks on Ukraine while claiming recent battlefield successes.

On March 9, Trump cast doubt on Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia’s aggression, even with U.S. assistance. In an interview with Fox News, he defended his administration’s decision to scale back support for Ukraine, stating: "Well, it may not survive anyway."

Trump also reiterated his previous assertion that Zelenskyy has not shown enough gratitude for U.S. aid, though he acknowledged the Ukrainian president’s qualities, describing him as "smart" and "tough."

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on March 9 that its forces had recaptured several villages and towns in Russia’s Kursk region, as well as newly occupied settlements in eastern Ukraine. Unconfirmed reports suggest that thousands of Ukrainian troops are at risk of being encircled by Russian forces as the offensive intensifies.