Ukraine to propose partial ceasefire at meeting with US in Saudi Arabia – The Financial Times

Ukraine will try to convince the United States to resume intelligence and military support at talks in Saudi Arabia. It will also try to prove that President Volodymyr Zelensky wants a quick end to the war with Russia. US President Donald Trump said he expects positive results from upcoming talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.

The Financial Times and Fox News reported this.

FT sources, speaking about preparations for the talks in Saudi Arabia, said that Kyiv wants to offer a partial ceasefire – in particular:

• Long-range strikes on Russia,
• Hostilities in the Black Sea.

Thus, Ukraine hopes that progress in the talks will force Washington to cancel the decision to freeze intelligence sharing and arms supplies.

According to one of the Ukrainian officials, Kyiv will prioritize establishing ties with the US in the short term.

Two European officials also said that Ukraine sees progress in ceasefire talks as a "favor for a favor" for resuming military and intelligence assistance.

At the same time, US President Donald Trump said he expects positive results from upcoming talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.

He expects positive results from negotiations between the US and Ukrainian delegations, which are scheduled in Saudi Arabia on March 11. During the meeting, the delegations should determine whether Ukraine is ready to make material concessions in favor of Russia to end the war.

"I believe we will make significant progress this week," Trump said.

In addition, the meeting will discuss an agreement on mineral extraction, which will allow the US to access Ukraine's rare earth resources.

"They will sign a mineral agreement, but I want them to want peace… They have not shown it to the extent that they should," Trump said.

A spokesman for the US State Department said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be in the Saudi city of Jeddah from Monday to Wednesday for talks to "advance the president's goal of ending the Russian-Ukrainian war."

For reference:

On March 6 in Brussels, at a special meeting of the European Council, President Volodymyr Zelensky presented the first necessary steps for peace and called on partners to support them. The president also emphasized that the teams of Ukraine and the United States of America have resumed work.

Zelensky told EU leaders that he wanted to reach a general framework agreement with the United States to facilitate further, more detailed contracts on mineral resources and security guarantees.

The broader agreement would begin with an end to airstrikes, naval operations, and strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. It would also include a prisoner exchange and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russian authorities.

On March 9, NBC News reported that US officials said a minerals deal would not be enough for Trump to resume aid and intelligence sharing.

The channel noted that the US president wants Zelensky to make concessions, such as giving up territory to Russia, moving toward holding elections in Ukraine, or even resigning.

Reuters reported that US officials plan to meet with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia to gauge whether Ukraine is willing to make tangible concessions to Russia to end the war. However, Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said Ukraine has not received any official proposals from the US or other partners regarding possible territorial concessions to end the war.

As reported, Ukraine and the United States delegations will meet in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war.