US Thanks Saudi Arabia for Hosting Crucial Jeddah Talks with Ukraine

TDT | Manama
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia for hosting the pivotal talks between the United States and Ukraine in Jeddah, aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia. In a joint press briefing with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Rubio thanked the Kingdom for its instrumental role in facilitating the dialogue.

"I want to personally thank – we both want to thank – the team in Saudi Arabia, his majesty, for hosting us and making this possible. They’ve been instrumental in this process and we’re very grateful to them for hosting us here today," Rubio said during the press conference.

The discussions led to significant developments, with the US planning to present a ceasefire proposal to Moscow in hopes of securing its approval. "And hopefully we’ll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they’ll say yes, that they’ll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court," Rubio stated.

Ukraine has expressed its support for the US proposal to declare a 30-day ceasefire in the war with Russia, with Washington agreeing to immediately lift the suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.

The US Department of State confirmed that the Jeddah meeting achieved important steps towards peace, with Ukraine agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire if Russia complies with the terms.

Saudi Arabia hosted the talks under the direction of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, with Ukrainian officials led by Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The talks were also attended by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Minister of State, Cabinet Member, and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban.

In a statement released by the Saudi Council of Ministers, the Kingdom welcomed the commencement of the peace talks, highlighting the Kingdom's balanced approach to international relations and its role in promoting global security. The Council emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to dialogue as the most effective means of conflict resolution, underscoring its leadership in fostering peaceful solutions in international conflicts.