Rubio in Saudi Arabia for U.S.-Ukraine Talks, Aims to Resolve Aid

Rubio emphasized that the U.S. is currently in a "listening mode" and aims to understand what concessions Ukraine might be willing to consider. "The Ukrainians are already receiving all necessary defensive intelligence as we speak. The notion of a broader aid pause is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that," Rubio told reporters aboard a military plane before landing in Jeddah.

He stressed that the discussions would not focus on specific territorial lines but rather on understanding what concessions might be possible for Ukraine. "There's no military solution to the war. Both Russia and Ukraine need to do difficult things to move forward," Rubio added.

On Monday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) met with Rubio in Jeddah. MBS had earlier held a separate meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Riyadh.

Tuesday's talks in Jeddah will involve Rubio and U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz joining Ukrainian officials for a high-level discussion. The meetings come as former President Donald Trump continues to push for a swift resolution to the conflict.

The Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah includes Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and military commander Pavlo Palisa.

"Strong positions on the front line and strong diplomacy must work together to achieve a just and lasting peace," Zelenskyy wrote on social media late Monday, reinforcing the importance of both military and diplomatic efforts.

Mineral Deal?
Amid the talks, there has been ongoing speculation about Ukraine's vast mineral resources, with Trump suggesting that continued U.S. military aid could be conditioned on access to these raw materials. Ukraine is known to have significant deposits of critical minerals such as uranium, lithium, and titanium, which are essential for the U.S. economy and national defense, particularly in rare earths like nickel.

However, Rubio clarified that securing a deal on Ukraine's mineral resources was not the primary focus of Tuesday’s discussions. "There are still more details to work out, and we're probably—rather than a memorandum of understanding—looking to sign a specific agreement, which would take more time," he said. "I wouldn’t prejudge tomorrow’s discussions based on a minerals deal. It’s an important topic, but it’s not the main topic on the agenda."

Rubio also praised the constructive role played by Britain and France in the ongoing discussions with Ukraine, while confirming that no discussions had been held regarding China’s involvement in postwar peacekeeping or reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.

This marks Rubio’s second visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office. During a visit in February, he and other senior U.S. officials held talks with Russian representatives in Riyadh. Rubio is scheduled to travel to Canada on Wednesday for meetings with G7 foreign ministers.