U.S. officials are set to meet a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to evaluate whether Ukraine is open to making concessions to Russia in pursuit of ending the ongoing war. According to two U.S. officials, the discussions will also focus on Kyiv’s approach toward the Trump administration following a tense meeting last month between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Leading the U.S. delegation in Jeddah will be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Zelenskiy, will head the Ukrainian delegation.

“You can’t say ‘I want peace’ and ‘I refuse to compromise on anything,’” remarked one U.S. official ahead of the closed-door talks. Another official emphasized the need for “a realistic peace,” suggesting that Ukraine’s insistence on pre-2014 or pre-2022 borders could hinder negotiations.

Trump expressed optimism about the discussions, stating, “We’re going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week.”

Ukraine’s European allies maintain that Kyiv should negotiate with Russia only from a position of strength. Zelenskiy has repeatedly argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not seek peace and that Ukraine’s defeat could embolden further Russian aggression in Europe.

In recent weeks, Trump has voiced frustration over Ukraine’s dwindling resources and manpower, urging Kyiv to enter negotiations with Moscow. His administration has temporarily halted weapons shipments and intelligence sharing, citing Ukraine’s lack of openness to peace talks. However, Trump indicated on Sunday that the suspension of intelligence sharing was “just about” over.

Critics argue that Trump’s stance may prolong the war by reinforcing Russia’s position, making a fair settlement less likely. Meanwhile, Russian forces have made gradual gains in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region face encirclement.

As part of the Jeddah talks, U.S. officials will explore the possibility of a ceasefire framework. Witkoff previously expressed hopes for outlining a peace deal during these discussions.

Additionally, negotiations are expected to touch on a minerals agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine. The deal, which would involve U.S. security assurances in exchange for access to Ukraine’s mineral resources, was initially set for signing during Zelenskiy’s Washington visit but was postponed after his disagreement with Trump. While both sides have since shown renewed interest in the accord, it remains unsigned.

Trump suggested that finalizing the minerals deal may depend on Ukraine demonstrating a stronger commitment to peace. “They will sign the minerals deal, but I want them to want peace... They haven’t shown it to the extent they should,” he stated.

The State Department and the Ukrainian embassy in Washington have not yet commented on the upcoming discussions.