Ukraine will hold peace talks with the US next week, President Zelensky has said – as he vowed to work ‘constructively’ with Donald Trump.
The wartime leader shared during his nightly address that he intends to visit Saudi Arabia on Monday, while his team will remain there to engage in discussions with US officials.
Despite a heated disagreement with Trump at the White House the previous week, President Zelensky emphasized his country’s pursuit of a swift and enduring peace agreement.
‘Next Monday, I have a visit planned to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with the Crown Prince’, he said.
‘After that, my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners.’
Trump has begun his second stint in the White House by reversing US policy on Ukraine and risking a historic rupture with Europe.
Talks soured between the US president and Zelensky soured on Friday after the two leaders locked horns in dramatic scenes in the Oval Office.
Following the dispute, Washington decided to terminate intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a move that could significantly impact the Ukrainian military’s capacity to track Russian forces.
Trump also ordered a pause to US military supplies to Ukraine as he sought to press Zelensky to engage in negotiations to end the war with Russia.
The Ukrainian leader said he will work ‘constructively’ with President Donald Trump (pictured on Thursday) to reach a ‘fast’ and ‘lasting’ peace
Peace talks between the US and Ukraine will take place in Saudi Arabia next week, President Zelensky (pictured) has said
Trump publicly feuded with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting in the Oval Office last week (pictured)
Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said: ‘We have taken a step back.’
European leaders have been holding emergency talks about ways to quickly increase their military budgets following the announcement.
On Thursday they backed new defense spending plans aimed at freeing up billions of euros for the continent’s security.
The 27 leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending.
They also urged the European Commission to explore new ways ‘to facilitate significant defense spending at national level in all Member States,’ a statement said.
The EU’s executive branch estimates that around 650 billion euros ($702 billion) could be freed up in this way.
The leaders also took note of a European Commission offer of a loan package worth 150 billion euros ($162 billion) to buy new military equipment and invited EU headquarters staff ‘to examine this proposal as a matter of urgency.’
People attend a rally addressed to the US government, asking for help in freeing Ukrainian prisoners of war held captive in Russia, in front of the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine
A view of damage after Russian missile hit a hotel and caused the death of three people in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine on March 6, 2025
Despite the US taking a step back, Zelensky insisted earlier this week that he is ready to work with Trump.
He said in a post on X that he wanted to ‘make things right’ and described their row in the White House as ‘regrettable’.
The wartime leader also expressed his desire to agree on a truce in the sky and sea ‘immediately, if Russia will do the same.’
President Zelensky was kicked out of the White House last week without signing the much-needed minerals deal following his blistering row with Trump.
Then as fears mounted that Kyiv could not sustain itself without US support, Zelensky made a dramatic climb down on X.
He wrote: ‘Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way. It is time to make things right.’
‘None of us wants an endless war.Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians.
‘My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.
A Ukrainian serviceman prepares to fire a M777 howitzer towards Russian positions at the frontline near Donetsk, Ukraine, Monday, March 3, 2025
Firefighters work at the site of houses destroyed by a Russian air strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the village of Slatyne, Kharkiv region, Ukraine March 6, 2025
‘We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky — ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure — and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same.
‘Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal.
‘We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this.’
