U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism ahead of the U.S.-Ukraine talks set to take place in Jeddah on Tuesday, stating, "We are optimistic about tomorrow's meeting and grateful to Saudi Arabia for hosting the conference." Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy landed a few hours apart in the Red Sea port city, where the high-stakes summit will be held. While no meeting between Rubio and Zelenskyy appeared to be planned, the U.S. secretary of state was also scheduled to meet with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Speaking to reporters aboard his plane, Rubio noted that he and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz would assess Ukraine's stance on negotiations. "If Ukraine and the U.S. can reach an understanding acceptable to President Trump, this could accelerate efforts toward peace talks," Rubio said. He acknowledged the immense toll of the war on Ukraine, stating, "What we want to understand is whether they are open to entering peace conversations and what kind of compromises they might consider. It has been a costly and bloody war for the Ukrainians. They have suffered greatly, and their people have suffered greatly." He emphasized that while discussions on concessions are difficult, they are necessary to end the war and prevent further suffering. "I'm not going to set conditions on what they have to do," he added. "We want to listen, see how far they are willing to go, and then compare that with Russia's stance to determine the real gap between them." Rubio suggested that a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine could serve as a starting point for broader negotiations. He also credited Britain and France for playing a constructive role in talks with Ukraine, stating that any ceasefire would require concessions from both sides. Regarding a potential meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rubio clarified that no date has been set. He added that while the U.S. administration has tools to pressure Russia, "We hope we won't have to use them." He also stressed that finalizing a deal on Ukraine's mineral resources was not the primary objective of the talks. Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for a three-day visit, during which he will meet with his Ukrainian counterparts to advance President Trump's goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war. The discussions in Jeddah will also explore ways to strengthen U.S.-Ukraine cooperation. This marks Rubio's second visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office, following a Middle East tour in mid-February. — SG with inputs from Agencies
