Rubio Engages in US-Ukraine Talks in Saudi Arabia to Address Aid Pause
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss resolving a pause in aid to Ukraine. Rubio aims to understand Ukraine’s potential concessions during talks with Ukrainian officials, emphasizing diplomacy alongside military strength. While there are discussions about Ukraine’s mineral resources, this is not the primary focus of the meetings. The visit represents ongoing U.S. engagement in supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that the U.S. aims to resolve the stalled aid to Ukraine during discussions with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. During a press briefing on a military flight, Rubio emphasized the U.S. is in a listening mode to gauge potential concessions from Ukraine, noting that the country is currently receiving necessary defensive intelligence.
Rubio remarked, “We are not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map but just get a general sense of what concessions are in the realm of the possible for them.” He highlighted the absence of a military resolution to the conflict, urging both Russia and Ukraine to undertake challenging decisions. Following his arrival in Jeddah, Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who earlier had discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On Tuesday, Rubio will join National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in conversations with a Ukrainian delegation comprising chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and military commander Pavlo Palisa. Zelenskyy communicated the necessity for cooperation between military strength and diplomacy to secure peace in a social media post.
President Trump has expressed interest in tying military aid to access to Ukraine’s raw materials, which are crucial to the U.S. economy. Ukraine possesses substantial deposits of essential minerals, including uranium and lithium. However, Rubio stated the focus of Tuesday’s talks would not center on these mineral deals, explaining, “It’s an important topic, but it’s not the main topic on the agenda.”
Furthermore, Rubio acknowledged the constructive roles played by Britain and France in the ongoing talks with Ukraine while noting that discussions involving China regarding post-war peacekeeping efforts have not occurred. This visit marks Rubio’s second trip to Saudi Arabia since taking office, with plans to proceed to Canada for meetings with G7 foreign ministers following his discussions in Jeddah.
In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Jeddah reflects the United States’ commitment to resolving the pause in aid to Ukraine. The meetings aim to explore potential concessions from Ukraine while emphasizing the need for diplomatic engagement alongside military cooperation. The strategic importance of Ukraine’s mineral resources was acknowledged, but it was clarified that this would not dominate the agenda. The involvement of global partners seeks a multifaceted approach to achieving peace in the region.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
