The seismic shift of the past fortnight is hard to digest. Hopes are high that a summit in Riyadh may help heal the Kyiv-Washington relationship and shed light on Trump’s vision for peace.

The presence of Ukrainian negotiators in Jeddah next week suggests officials in Kyiv have accepted they have -- right now -- few options. Or, as US President Donald Trump put it, few cards.

On Wednesday, March 12, a meeting between the US and Ukrainian delegations is set to take place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, according to reports from an Axios journalist. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also mentioned on Thursday that a delegation meeting is expected next week.

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U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Thursday he is in discussions with Ukraine for a peace agreement framework to end hostilities with Russia and that a meeting is planned next week with the Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia.

We hope that the leaders will come to an agreement and we will have peace,” said Sergei Kurnosov, the mayor of the town of Rylsk near Russia's front line with Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Friday the chance to host a meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine next week, its foreign ministry said, adding that the kingdom would continue to do its utmost to help end the Ukraine-Russia war.

U.S. and Ukrainian officials are talking to set up a meeting next week in Saudi Arabia aimed at structuring the framework for a ceasefire with Russia and a peace agreement, President Trump’s