Zelenskyy Meets Saudi Crown Prince In Jeddah Ahead Of Ukraine-US Talks, Seeks Riyadh's Support For Mediation After Oval Office Mishap

In an effort to repair ties with the United States (US) and secure a favorable resolution to the ongoing war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday (10 March), reported The Hindu.

Following their meeting, Zelenskyy shared on X that the discussions were “good”, expressing gratitude for the Saudi leader’s “wise perspective on global affairs and support for Ukraine.” 

He further noted that it was “especially important to hear words of confidence in Ukraine’s future.”

Zelenskyy highlighted that their talks revolved around the “steps and conditions needed to end the war and secure a reliable and lasting peace.” A key issue raised during the discussion was the release of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children, an aspect that Zelenskyy “specifically emphasised.”

Saudi Arabia has previously played a role in diplomatic negotiations, particularly in a US-Russia prisoner swap last year. Zelenskyy now hopes Riyadh can leverage its influence in a similar capacity to facilitate further humanitarian efforts.

The timing of this meeting is significant as it comes just before scheduled discussions on Tuesday between Ukrainian and US officials in Saudi Arabia.

Though Zelenskyy will not be present, his delegation is set to work on mending diplomatic rifts following his 28 February visit to Washington, which reportedly led to a heated exchange in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump and Vice President J D Vance.

At stake is the US military aid and intelligence support that has been instrumental for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also in Jeddah. Though he is not scheduled to meet with Zelensky, he has held discussions with Prince Mohammed on other key issues, including Yemen, Houthi threats to shipping, Syria, and Gaza’s reconstruction efforts.

In parallel, the European Union recently approved new measures aimed at strengthening its defenses and allocating hundreds of billions of euros for security in response to the Trump administration’s shift in Ukraine policy.