U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is to meet for talks with Ukrainian counterparts in Saudi Arabia over March 10-12, a statement from the U.S. Department of State said.
Rubio's trip to Saudi Arabia appears to mark an intensification of Washington's diplomatic efforts to end the Russo-Ukraine war,
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Jeddah...for talks with Ukrainian counterparts to advance the President's goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war,” Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesperson, said.
Rubio said he had a “constructive call” with Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, on Friday, Reuters reported.
In February, the U.S. Secretary of State met with a Russian delegationin Saudi Arabia.
The planned meeting will take place after the Trump administration paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a public clash at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28.
While in Jeddah, Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Rubio will then travel to Canada for the March 12-14 Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting.
The G7 brings together the world's most advanced economies, and apart from the U.S., includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, with the European Union (EU) as a "non-enumerated member.” Canada hosts G7 summits this year, holding the group's annually rotating presidency.
According to the statement by the State Department, during the meeting, Rubio will work “to advance President Trump's America First foreign policy agenda" and "further U.S. interests in peace and security, strategic cooperation, and global stability.
“Discussions will focus on conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, cooperation in Africa and the Indo-Pacific, and stability in the Western Hemisphere,” the statement added.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Jeddah...for talks with Ukrainian counterparts to advance the President's goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war,” Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesperson, said.
Rubio said he had a “constructive call” with Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, on Friday, Reuters reported.
In February, the U.S. Secretary of State met with a Russian delegationin Saudi Arabia.
The planned meeting will take place after the Trump administration paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a public clash at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28.
While in Jeddah, Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Rubio will then travel to Canada for the March 12-14 Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting.
The G7 brings together the world's most advanced economies, and apart from the U.S., includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, with the European Union (EU) as a "non-enumerated member.” Canada hosts G7 summits this year, holding the group's annually rotating presidency.
According to the statement by the State Department, during the meeting, Rubio will work “to advance President Trump's America First foreign policy agenda" and "further U.S. interests in peace and security, strategic cooperation, and global stability.
“Discussions will focus on conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, cooperation in Africa and the Indo-Pacific, and stability in the Western Hemisphere,” the statement added.
Zelenskyy heads to Saudi
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he would also visit Saudi Arabia for a Monday meeting with Mohammed bin Salman and that Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives would meet with the U.S. team on Tuesday.
“On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps,” Zelenskyy said on social media.
“Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war,” he added.
Besides Sybiha, Ukraine's delegation will include Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and the head of the President's Office, Andrii Yermak, along with his deputy Pavlo Palisa.
“On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps,” Zelenskyy said on social media.
“Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war,” he added.
Besides Sybiha, Ukraine's delegation will include Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and the head of the President's Office, Andrii Yermak, along with his deputy Pavlo Palisa.
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