RIYADH, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia confirmed on Friday that a meeting between Ukrainian and U.S. delegations would be held in the western port city of Jeddah next week.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the Saudi Foreign Ministry noted the kingdom's "continued efforts to achieve lasting peace to end the Ukrainian crisis," without specifying the date and the content of the upcoming meeting.
Earlier on Friday, the Kiev-based UNN news agency, citing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reported that Ukrainian and U.S. delegations are expected to meet for peace talks next week in Saudi Arabia.
"On Monday, I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince (Mohammed bin Salman). After that, my team will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners," Zelensky was quoted as saying.
He stressed that Kiev is committed to achieving peace and is working on a solution to the conflict, expressing Ukraine's readiness to coordinate "with partners in America and Europe for the sake of peace."
On Thursday, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told reporters that he is set to meet with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia on March 11 to discuss a potential peace agreement.
The upcoming Ukraine-U.S. meeting follows a rare shouting match at the White House between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelensky in late February, leading to the cancellation of an anticipated bilateral minerals agreement. ■
