Ukraine is trying to persuade us to continue with help in talks with high stakes

Ukraine will try to persuade the United States to continue intelligence and military support in bilateral high -standing talks this week, convincing Donald Trump that Volodimir Zelenski wants a quick end to the war with Russia.

Officials have reported on preparations for negotiations in Saudi Arabia, they said Kiev is scheduled to propose a partial ceasefire with Russia for long -range and rocket attacks and fighting operations in the Black Sea, hoping that the progress of talks will bring Washington to return to Washington.

Ukrainian negotiators travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday, after the first days without US support, led to the country’s troops to abandon the Russian territory that they occupied last year in the Kursk region.

A Ukrainian official added that Kiev would in the short term prioritize to correct its ties with the United States, while two European officials said Kiev had made progress in ceasefire talks as a quid Pro Quo to restart military and intelligence.

“The purpose of any negotiations between Ukrainian and US authorities in Saudi Arabia will be, in particular, to agree to continue aid,” said Fedir Venislavski, a Ukrainian lawmaker from the Greenski Party and a member of the Parliament of the National Parliament Security Committee.

US Secretary of State Marko Rubio will be in the Saudi city of Eda from Monday to Wednesday for the talks, with a brief “to promote the president’s goal to end the war in Russia-Ukra,” the spokesman said.

Trump said on Sunday that he expects “some pretty good results coming out of Saudi Arabia this week”, adding to Ukraine, “I want them to love peace. . . Now they have not shown it to the point. “

Asked by reporters about the “Air Force” whether he will consider continuing to share intelligence, the US president said: “We almost have. We just have. ”

The US pressure on Kiev has forced the Greenski administration to change its position after the catastrophic meeting on February 28 at the White House.

“The tactics have changed,” said Volodimir Fesenko, a political analyst based in Kiev. “Now the most important thing (something) is to normalize relations with the United States and, if it was first to get security guarantees and then advocate for ceasefire, it is now obvious that it will not happen in that order.”

He added: “Trump says Ukraine does not want a ceasefire, so the goal for us is to show the United States that we are ready to act as quickly as possible and start direct negotiations with Russia.”

Greenski told EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday that he wants to reach an agreement on a general framework with the United States that will pave the way for further, more detailed mineral resources and security guarantees.

The wider agreement will begin interruption of air strikes, sea operations and power strikes and other civilian infrastructure.

Woulde continued to exchange prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russian authorities, measures aimed at building confidence between the two sides.

The Ukrainian president will fly to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with the negotiations on Eda, set to begin the next day.

Andriy Jermak, head of the Greenski Office, will lead the Ukrainian negotiation team, with Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha, Defense Minister Rusem Scarov and Deputy Chief of the Office of President Pavlo Palisa.

Ursula von der Lane, president of the European Commission, said Brussels and Kiev “work very, very closely together”.

While European authorities say about 20 countries led by the UK and France have said they could form a “coalition of ready” to support Ukraine after each ceasefire, Trump has so far refused to devote us to such force.

The US president was angry last week when his Ukrainian counterpart said the deal to end the war was still very far. “If one does not want to make a contract, that person will not be very long,” Trump said in a subsequent.

But Kiev has not given up on the United States to take some form of role in any ceasefire, according to European authorities who have discussed with their Ukrainian counterparts before the talks.

They indicate that this might include, but not limited to, use of American satellites or intelligence signals for verification of ceasefire.

NBC News has announced US officials on Sunday that they say the mineral deal will not be enough for Trump to continue with the help and sharing of intelligence. It adds that the US president also wanted to change the stance of peace talks, including concessions, such as giving up Russian territory and moving to elections in Ukraine or even withdrawing as president.

“Ukraine is seeking peace from the first second of this war,” Zelenski wrote on Saturday’s platform. “The real suggestions are on the table. The key is to move fast and efficiently. “

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said last week that “some kind of vacation is absolutely unacceptable” without a “final agreement”.

Additional notice from Ben Hall in London