Ukraine-US Begin High-Level Talks in Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Drone Attacks
Senior Ukrainian and U.S. officials initiated critical discussions on Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, focused on finding a resolution to the ongoing war with Russia, which has now lasted over three years.
The talks took place hours after a massive Russian drone assault, where Moscow’s air defenses successfully downed 343 Ukrainian drones, marking the largest such attack since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The unprecedented drone strike, which targeted 10 Russian regions, left three dead and 18 injured, including three children.
In retaliation, Russia launched 126 Shahed drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, continuing its persistent bombardment of civilian areas across the country.
Meanwhile, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port city, a Ukrainian delegation, including the country’s top diplomats and defense officials, sat down with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for talks aimed at ending Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II.
As journalists briefly observed the meeting, Rubio flashed a thumbs up and responded to reporters’ questions with a brief, “Good,” signaling optimism for the discussions. However, Ukrainian officials remained stoic, and no immediate statements were made regarding the ongoing drone assault.
Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak, who participated in the talks, stressed that the focus of the discussions was on achieving “a just and lasting peace” for Ukraine, highlighting the importance of security guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression.
The conflict began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and supported separatist militias in eastern Ukraine, leading to a prolonged war in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister was also present, with U.S., Saudi, and Ukrainian flags displayed in the background, though officials refrained from answering any questions during the brief interaction with the press.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented that Russia would be informed of the Jeddah talks’ outcomes, which he described as part of “normal practice.”
