Zelenskyy says talks with US officials to take place in Saudi Arabia

Just one week ago, the world witnessed an unprecedented debacle unfold in the White House as US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy were gripped in a heated argument.

The meeting between the two leaders ended with no breakthrough on any peace efforts. A US-Ukraine rare earths deal was also scheduled to be signed at the meeting, but was postponed after White House officials reportedly asked Zelenskyy to abruptly leave.

Tensions continued to soar in the days that followed, as Trump continued to hold the position that Zelenskyy is not serious about achieving peace.

The new Washington administration also announced suspensions in all military and financial aid as well as US intelligence to Kyiv in the wake of the Trump-Zelenskyy row.

But things may be taking a turn for the better as the Ukrainian leader announced on Thursday on his official Telegram channel that he will be meeting with US officials soon to resume the interrupted peace talks.

The talks are expected to take place early next week in Saudi Arabia. Zelenskyy – who called the public Oval Office spat “regrettable – will meet the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Monday, after which meetings with US officials will take place.

“Next week, on Monday, I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince. After that, my team will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace.”

“As we told President Trump, Ukraine is working and will work exclusively constructively for a quick and reliable peace,” added Zelenskyy in a statement on Telegram.

US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will be traveling to Saudi Arabia to represent Trump at the talks. Witkoff