Rubio in Saudi Arabia for US-Ukraine Talks to Resolve Aid Issues

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss resolving the pause in aid to Ukraine with its officials. He aims to understand potential concessions from Ukraine while emphasizing the importance of diplomatic and military collaboration for a lasting peace. Conversations regarding Ukraine’s mineral resources will be secondary to the main objectives of the talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to address the pause in U.S. aid to Ukraine during discussions with Ukrainian officials. He emphasized the importance of understanding what concessions Ukraine might be willing to consider. Rubio mentioned that Ukraine is currently receiving defensive intelligence information, and resolving the aid pause is a primary goal of the talks scheduled for Tuesday.

Rubio pointed out that instead of discussing specific territorial boundaries, the focus will be on gauging Ukraine’s potential concessions. He stressed that there is no military solution to the ongoing conflict and both Russia and Ukraine must engage in difficult negotiations. Later, he met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had previously met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During the discussions, Rubio will be joined by U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz and a Ukrainian delegation that includes key ministers and military leaders. Zelenskyy highlighted in a social media post the need for strong diplomatic efforts alongside military strength to achieve enduring peace.

There have been discussions surrounding a mineral deal, with Trump expressing interest in linking continued military aid to access to Ukraine’s valuable raw materials. Ukraine is rich in critical minerals like uranium, lithium, and titanium, essential for the U.S. economy. However, Rubio clarified that achieving a minerals deal would not be the priority during the talks, suggesting that substantial details still need to be finalized.

Rubio acknowledged the constructive roles played by Britain and France in dealings with Ukraine. He clarified that there have been no discussions regarding China’s involvement in the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine. This visit marks Rubio’s second trip to Saudi Arabia, following earlier discussions with Russian officials, and he plans to travel to Canada for meetings with G7 foreign ministers shortly after the Jeddah meetings.

In conclusion, Marco Rubio’s visit to Saudi Arabia aims to resolve the pause in U.S. aid to Ukraine through consultations with Ukrainian officials. The dialogues will focus on possible concessions by Ukraine, rather than territorial issues, and will consider the integration of military and diplomatic efforts for peace. While discussions on mineral deals may occur, they will not overshadow the primary agenda, underscoring the complexity of the ongoing negotiations.

Original Source: www.voanews.com