State Secretary Rubio optimistic on talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Jedah, Saudi Arabia, for talks with a Ukrainian delegation.

The goal, as stated in an official statement, is “ananncing President Donald Trump's goal of ending the Russian-Ukrainian war”.

The visit comes several days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent President Trump a letter of conciliatory tones, following a heated meeting between the two leaders at the White House on 28 February.

Last Friday, President Trump made comments about the status of peace negotiations.

“We are making progress with Russia, but currently they are seriously bombing Ukraine. And frankly, with Ukraine, I'm having trouble dealing, at a time when they don't have any cards in their hands.”, said Mr. Trump.

As a form of pressure to lower the sides at the negotiating table, President Trump has interrupted military aid as well as exchange intelligence information with Kiev, while threatening Russia with sanctions and tariffs.

Analysts say reaching an agreement is important for President Trump from a political point of view.

“In essence he (Donald Trump) has bet his presidency on reaching some kind of agreement. And I don't know what will happen because there are so many players with different positions in these negotiations, whether Russia, Ukraine, or the European Union.”, says William Pomeranz, of the American institute '%Kennan', a research institute conducting studies on Russia, the former Soviet republics, and their relations with the rest of the world.

Ahead of talks between the United States and Ukraine in Jedah, which is expected to last until 12 March, Kiev supporters gathered in Washington on Saturday as Ukrainian officials denounced a series of Russian attacks over the weekend against Ukrainian targets in Donnetsk, along with other regions. / VOA