Diplomatic Pivot: Saudi Arabia Hosts US-Ukraine Peace Talks

Saudi Arabia is set to host talks between the United States and Ukraine following a tense meeting at the White House involving President Zelenskyy. The talks aim to mend relations and explore pathways to peace. The event highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a neutral ground for international negotiations.

Saudi Arabia is preparing to host critical talks between the United States and Ukraine, following a heated exchange during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the White House. The discussions, scheduled in Jeddah, underline Saudi Arabia's efforts to present itself as a neutral ground for international diplomacy.

The White House meeting, which involved President Zelenskyy, President Trump, and Vice President JD Vance, deteriorated into a confrontation over Ukraine's rare earth minerals. Saudi officials, emphasizing their role as peace brokers, announced Jeddah as the venue, a port city with a history of hosting diplomatic engagements.

With Zelenskyy and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attending, the talks aim to restore cooperation. However, Europe's exclusion has raised concerns, and the European Union is bolstering defenses in response. Saudi Arabia's involvement enhances its international standing, despite geopolitical complexities surrounding the US, Ukraine, and Russia.

(With inputs from agencies.)