Zelenskyy vows to 'work constructively' with Trump as US-Ukraine peace talks to go ahead in Saudi Arabia
7 March 2025, 00:14 | Updated: 7 March 2025, 00:19
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to "work constructively" with Donald Trump ahead of peace talks in Saudi Arabia next week.
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Both the Ukrainian president and a senior US official said that they would have talks in the Middle Eastern country.
Mr Zelenskyy said he would head to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, before further talks with US officials.
It comes after the explosive meeting between Donald Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, followed by the US freezing military and intelligence support to Ukraine.
Mr Zelenskyy said on Thursday evening: "Next Monday, I have a visit planned to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with the Crown Prince.
"After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners. Ukraine is most interested in peace. As we told [Mr Trump], Ukraine is working and will continue to work constructively for a swift and reliable peace."
A top US diplomat said earlier in the day: "We are now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or even potentially Jeddah."
In an exchange with reporters on Thursday, Mr Trump said he believed his administration had made "a lot of progress" in recent days with both Ukraine and Russia, but did not specify how.
"I think what's going to happen is Ukraine wants to make a deal, because I don't think they have a choice," he said.
"I also think that Russia wants to make a deal because in a certain different way - a different way that only I know, only I know - they have no choice either."
The US president revealed that he is planning to travel to Saudi Arabia himself "probably over the next month and a half".
He went on to say that the US will not defend NATO countries that he believes are not contributing enough for their own defence.
He warned that some member states are still contributing too little to the alliance - telling reporters in the Oval Office that he has told other countries he will not defend them if they are "delinquent".
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It comes as the US Defence Secretary said that the freeze on military aid for Ukraine was a "pause" while the White House reviewed the situation.
Speaking during a meeting with British Defence Secretary John Healey, Pete Hegseth said: "As the president has pointed out, it is a pause. Exactly what he said from the beginning. Pause - pending a true commitment to a path to peace.
Mr Hegseth said Mr Trump was "paying a very keen eye" to what Mr Zelenskyy was "saying and doing about committing to that peace process".
He added: "And we're very encouraged by the signs we're seeing. Ultimately, he will make the determination."
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Meanwhile Mr Healey said he was "fixed" on the opportunity Donald Trump has created to secure peace in Ukraine ahead of a meeting with his US counterpart.
The British Defence Secretary said: "I'm fixed on the historic opportunity the president has created to bring a lasting and secure peace to Ukraine."
He added: "The President also has asked Europe to step up, and we are. The UK is ready to take on a leadership in that task.
"You saw that from Keir Starmer at the weekend, in the way that he is pulling the parties together, ensuring that we take Ukraine with us and that we work closely alongside the United States."
