US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Monday to Wednesday to engage in key discussions with Ukrainian officials, the US State Department confirmed on Sunday.
The visit aims to push forward efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
Rubio’s meeting with Ukrainian officials comes at a pivotal time, as both nations seek to repair diplomatic ties following last month’s tense Oval Office confrontation between US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting saw Trump and Vance criticising Zelensky over the ongoing war, while the Ukrainian leader firmly defended his position.
Since then, senior US officials have been working to stabilise relations. Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, previously indicated that American and Ukrainian representatives would meet in Saudi Arabia this week.
“President Zelensky sent a letter to the president. I think the president saw it as a really good, positive first step… The idea is to establish a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire,” Witkoff stated.
Beyond his talks with Ukrainian officials, Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Discussions will focus on regional cooperation and strengthening US-Saudi relations, as the kingdom remains a key venue for diplomatic negotiations on both the Ukraine conflict and the wider Middle East crisis.
Following his Saudi visit, Rubio will travel to Charlevoix, Canada, to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting. The summit will address conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, as well as global cooperation in Africa, the Indo-Pacific, and stability in the Western Hemisphere.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, Rubio’s meetings could play a crucial role in shaping the next steps toward peace in Ukraine.
