A significant meeting between US and Ukrainian officials regarding a potential peace agreement with Russia is scheduled for next week, as confirmed by Steve Witkoff, the special envoy from President Donald Trump. The gathering will take place in Saudi Arabia, highlighting a noticeable improvement in the relationship between the US and Ukraine following a tense exchange between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week.
In the wake of the confrontation, the US halted military assistance to Ukraine and ceased intelligence sharing with its armed forces. Witkoff noted that Zelenskyy had subsequently reached out to Trump, describing the move as a “positive first step” that paved the way for discussions about the upcoming meeting.
Zelenskyy also stated in a recent address that he would be travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince, while his team would remain in the country for continued discussions with American representatives. Emphasising Ukraine’s commitment to peace, he indicated the urgency of the situation.
This announcement follows Zelenskyy’s participation in an emergency summit with European Union leaders in Brussels, where they discussed the ongoing conflict and security concerns within Europe. The summit culminated in a commitment from leaders to increase defence spending, which could unlock substantial financial resources aimed at bolstering the continent’s security in light of Trump’s indication that Europe must be more self-reliant in the future.
The leaders agreed to relax budget constraints, enabling EU member states willing to do so to ramp up military expenditure. Additionally, they tasked the European Commission with investigating new strategies to facilitate increased national defence budgets across all member nations. It is estimated that around €650 billion (approximately AUD 1.1 billion) could be made available through these measures.
While these developments were generally welcomed, they sparked criticism from the Russian government, which labelled Macron’s proposal to share France’s nuclear deterrent as “extremely confrontational.” Thus, the situation remains tense as the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve.