Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says crunch peace talks in Saudi Arabia with US officials will be ‘fully constructive’

US and Ukrainian officials are meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in a bid to end the years-long war between Russia and Ukraine.

It is believed that Ukraine will propose a partial ceasefire across air and sea with Russia – including long-range drone and missile strikes and combat operations in the Black Sea.

The US, in turn, wants Ukraine to be prepared to give greater concessions, including giving up territory to Russia.

Sir Keir Starmer told Donald Trump he hopes for a “positive outcome” following tomorrow’s peace talks, including the resumption of intelligence sharing and military aid for Ukraine.

After the relationship between the US and Ukraine plunged to new lows following a fiery argument at the White House, the US president paused the supply of weapons and intelligence that Kyiv said have been crucial in their fight against Russia.

Ahead of the talks, Trump said the ban on intelligence sharing had “just about” ended, and in a conversation with the US president on Monday Sir Keir said he hoped the US would restore its support to Ukraine following the peace talks in Saudi Arabia.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister said he hoped there would be a positive outcome to the talks that would enable US aid and intelligence-sharing to be restarted.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and US secretary of state Marco Rubio have arrived in Saudi Arabia in preparation for crunch peace talks on Tuesday.

Mr Zelensky has said a team including his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, foreign minister Andriy Sybiha and defence minister Rustem Umerov will take part in the talks on Tuesday and Mr Rubio will lead the American team.

The Ukraine president’s officials will try to repair the damage done during visit to Washington descended into an Oval Office argument with US president Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance.

Ukraine is expected to propose an air and sea ceasefire during a meeting with American officials tomorrow to curry favour with an administration that has suggested Kyiv is not serious about peace. The US held meetings with a Russian delegation last month.

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane, Mr Rubio said he and national security adviser Mike Waltz would take stock of Ukraine’s responses.

“What we want to know is, are they interested entering some sort of peace conversation and general outlines of the kinds of things they could consider, recognising that it has been a costly and bloody war for the Ukrainians. They have suffered greatly and their people have suffered greatly,” Mr Rubio said.

There are 13 European countries, including the UK, who have purchased US F-35 fighter jets.

Though there is no evidence of a so-called ‘kill switch’, Joachim Schranzhofer, head of communications at the German arms company Hensoldt, said there were other ways for aircraft to be grounded.

The Dutch prime minister says Europe must take more responsibility for the continent’s security and strengthen its defence.

Dick Schoof said he discussed the war in Ukraine with European Council President António Costa today.

“As Europe, we must take more responsibility for our own security,” he said in a post on X.

“To do this, we need to significantly strengthen our European defence, while keeping an eye on financial stability and manageable debts. We also talked about migration and the importance of strengthening European competitiveness.”

His comments come ahead of a virtual world leaders’ meeting on Saturday, hosted by Sir Keir Starmer, to progress plans on getting peacekeeping troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff met with a UK advisor ahead of peace talks with the US on Tuesday.

While US President Donald Trump was optimistic ahead of the talks, saying he believed the countries were “going to make a lot of progress”, relations have been strained between the US and Ukraine.

The talks come less than two weeks after an explosive and public argument in the White House between Trump, JD Vance and Zelensky.

UK national security advisor Jonathan Powell met with Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak ahead of the meeting, and on social media Yermak said the pair “exchanged views” on a path to peace.

The number of Britons who believe the US is an ally or friendly rival has collapsed under Donald Trump, a YouGov poll has found.

Since December, the portion who said they considered the US either a friend and ally or a friendly rival has fallen from two thirds (67 per cent) to just over a half (53 per cent).

By contrast, the number who said the US has an unfriendly relationship with the UK or is a “hostile threat” jumped from 12 per cent to 30 per cent. It comes amid the president’s aggressive stance on global trade, threatening tariff wars and even a US takeover of Canada and Greenland. And the drop also follows Mr Trump’s Oval Office clash with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

The group most likely to still see America under Mr Trump as a friendly country or an ally of the UK are Reform UK voters, with two-thirds still considering the US positively.

Labour voters were least likely to take a positive view of the relationship, at just 51 per cent.

Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin is meeting with counterparts in Paris tomorrow to discuss a “coalition of the willing” agreement on defending Ukraine.

Earlier on Monday, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated Britain’s commitment to supporting Ukraine.

“We’re fully committed to working with Ukraine, supporting Ukraine, working with the United States and our informal partners to drive progress towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and that is our focus,” the spokesperson said.

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said the group’s support for Ukraine is “unwavering” following a meeting in Sarajevo on Monday.

“Important to be in Sarajevo today. #NATO remains firmly committed to the sovereignty & territorial integrity of [Ukraine]. Political leadership is key to further progress & stability. NATO’s support is unwavering,” he said on X.

Volodymyr Zelensky has begun meeting with Saudi officials after touching down in Jeddah this afternoon.

Zelensky met with the Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, ahead of his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sulman later today.

The Ukrainian president’s visit comes ahead of US-Ukraine peace talks, but he won’t be part of those meetings – they will be led by his chief of staff, and ht US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.