Saudi Arabia welcomed on Friday plans to host a scheduled meeting between the US and Ukraine in Jeddah next week.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to efforts aimed at achieving a lasting peace to end the Ukraine crisis. It said Riyadh has pursued these efforts over the past three years by hosting several meetings on the issue.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steven Witkoff, said on Thursday he would hold talks with a Ukrainian delegation on a framework for a peace deal to end the war, adding that a meeting with Ukrainian officials was planned in Saudi Arabia next week.
Later on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced plans to visit Saudi Arabia on Monday. He said a team of Ukrainian negotiators would remain in the kingdom to work with US partners after his departure from Riyadh.
US news website Axios reported on Thursday that senior US and Ukrainian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia next Wednesday to discuss efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The report, citing two sources familiar with the matter, said Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were expected to attend the talks.
Asharq Al-Awsat spoke with researchers from Saudi Arabia and the US about the implications of these announcements, particularly in light of recent developments between Washington and Kyiv.
Experts highlighted how Saudi Arabia’s success in mediating and facilitating talks between the US and Russia has created an opportunity for another mediation effort between Washington and Kyiv.
Brian Katulis, vice president for policy at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia has previously hosted talks between Sudanese factions due to Sudan’s direct impact on its interests.
He noted that Riyadh’s role in facilitating discussions between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine war reflects its growing position as a mediator.
By bringing together opposing sides, including those engaged in direct or indirect conflicts, Saudi Arabia has strengthened its influence on the global stage.
Zelenskiy’s visit to Saudi Arabia appears to be a strategic move to regain diplomatic momentum following the suspension of US aid and to leverage Riyadh’s influence in facilitating peace talks, said Hisham Al-Ghannam, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and head of the National Security Program at Naif University for Security Sciences.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Ghannam described Zelenskiy’s decision as a significant diplomatic step amid rising tensions and shifting global dynamics in the Russia-Ukraine war.
He noted that the visit comes after a turbulent period in US-Ukraine relations, particularly following last week’s heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskiy in the Oval Office, which led Washington to suspend military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.
“All roads lead to Riyadh” is more than just a phrase, said Saudi international relations researcher Salman Al-Ansari.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he stressed that Saudi Arabia's diplomatic efforts are serious and genuine in contributing to global security.
He added that the international community’s trust in Riyadh is the result of its consistent and strategic engagement on the world stage.
