US Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Saudi Arabia on Sunday for discussions on Ukraine, as President Donald Trump deliberates whether to lift the freeze on military and intelligence assistance.
Rubio is set to proceed to the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, marking the first visit by a senior US official since Trump’s return to office. His administration has already sparked tensions with Canada by instigating a trade dispute and making remarks questioning its sovereignty.
During three days of talks in Jeddah, Rubio will focus on advancing Trump’s goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war, according to State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. The discussions on Tuesday are expected to include Rubio, Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz, and top Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky’s security advisor as well as foreign and defence ministers.
A senior State Department official suggested Ukraine’s high-level participation signals readiness for negotiations. However, while Zelensky is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, he will not be directly involved in the Jeddah discussions.
Trump, speaking to reporters on Sunday, expressed optimism about the talks, stating, “I think we’re going to have a good result in Saudi Arabia… I think Ukraine’s going to do well, and I think Russia is going to do well. Some very big things could happen this week.”
The US halted military and intelligence aid to Ukraine following a contentious White House meeting on 28 February, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticised Zelensky for his perceived lack of gratitude over previous US assistance. Zelensky left Washington without agreeing to a deal that would transfer a significant portion of Ukraine’s mineral wealth to the US, a condition Trump insists would justify American support.
In recent weeks, Zelensky has indicated willingness to sign the mineral rights agreement and sent a letter to Trump in an attempt to mend relations. Trump publicly read the letter during his address to Congress on Tuesday.
Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy on Russia and Ukraine, said on Thursday that assistance could resume if Zelensky finalises the deal, though the ultimate decision lies with Trump. However, NBC News reported that Trump is unlikely to reinstate aid unless Ukraine also demonstrates readiness to make concessions to Russia.
Trump reiterated his stance on Sunday, saying Ukraine has yet to show a genuine desire for peace. “Right now, they haven’t shown it to the extent that they should… but I think they will, and I think it’s going to become evident over the next two or three days.”
European leaders, caught off guard by the US aid freeze, are scrambling to compensate for the shortfall. Despite their efforts, Zelensky has stated that Washington’s security assurances remain irreplaceable in any potential agreement with Moscow.
Rubio previously met with his Russian counterpart, ending a period of diplomatic isolation imposed under the Biden administration. Their discussions, held in Saudi Arabia, touched on possible economic cooperation should the war come to an end.
The State Department confirmed that Rubio will also meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah. Trump, meanwhile, is expected to push for Saudi recognition of Israel, though this remains unlikely until the conflict in Gaza is resolved.
After his Saudi visit, Rubio will travel to Quebec for the G7 foreign ministers’ summit, where his team says he will focus on promoting US interests in global stability, security cooperation, and diplomacy. The statement made no mention of the ongoing trade tensions with Canada, despite Trump’s recent tariff measures and his repeated remarks belittling the country as “the 51st state.”
