Saudi Arabia Hosts Key Talks on Ukraine Conflict, Excluding Europe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet US officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in a crucial effort to end the ongoing war with Russia. This meeting follows Zelensky's challenging visit to the White House last month, which concluded without significant agreement. Zelensky aims to engage in "constructive dialogue," emphasizing the need for Ukraine's interests to be adequately represented during negotiations. The talks in Jeddah, which will also include discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are viewed as vital for establishing a framework for a peace agreement and a potential ceasefire. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff noted that this dialogue aims to bring both peace closer and ensure continued support for Ukraine. This comes amid reports of the US suspending military aid to Kyiv in a bid to push for negotiations with Moscow. Zelensky’s negotiating team includes key ministers from his administration, as ongoing tensions and the impact of sanctions on Russia remain at the forefront of discussions.

Witnesses have accused Saudi border forces of using indiscriminate force against Ethiopian migrants attempting to cross from Yemen, with reports indicating that hundreds have been killed between 2019 and 2024. A report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) details horrific accounts, including migrants facing machine gun fire and witnessing bodies along perilous routes. One Eritrean man recounted losing a leg to gunfire and seeing three others die during his crossing attempt in 2022. HRW's August 2023 report outlines a "widespread and systematic" pattern of violence by Saudi forces, suggesting the potential for crimes against humanity. Testimonies revealed instances of sexual assault by border guards, as well as shocking accounts where guards allegedly forced migrants to choose bodily targets before being shot. The increased number of Ethiopian migrants, who surged by 32% to nearly 97,000 in 2023, reflects the dire conditions stemming from civil unrest, poverty, and climate crises in their home country. Despite these troubling reports, the Saudi government has yet to provide an official response regarding the accusations.

In a significant development, the United States and Russia held their first face-to-face talks regarding Ukraine since the onset of conflict nearly three years ago. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Riyadh for over five hours on February 18, 2025, initiating discussions aimed at establishing a framework for future cooperation, as stated by the U.S. State Department. Despite this seemingly positive engagement, Russian officials expressed skepticism about immediate rapprochement. Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov remarked, “It is still difficult to talk about rapprochement,” indicating a cautious stance regarding the negotiations. However, both sides reportedly agreed to consider each other's interests and will establish a new consultation mechanism to improve bilateral relations disrupted by recent expulsions of diplomats. Notably absent from the discussions were representatives from Kyiv and the European Union, a situation underscored by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Glushko's dismissal of any European presence in future talks. The meeting was moderated by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.