World News Today, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia : Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended a grand ceremonial welcome to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Monday, March 10, marking a high-profile visit amid escalating global efforts to address the Russia-Ukraine war.
Highlights
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosts Zelenskyy with a lavish welcome in Jeddah on March 10.
- Talks focus on peace in Ukraine, with Saudi Arabia pledging $400 million in humanitarian aid.
- Zelenskyy’s visit precedes U.S.-Ukraine ceasefire discussions, signaling Saudi mediation role.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Rolls Out Grand Welcome for Zelenskyy
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the Crown Prince greeted Zelenskyy with traditional honors, including a formal reception and bilateral talks, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s growing diplomatic clout.
The visit, coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, sets the stage for critical U.S.-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations in Jeddah on March 11, spotlighting the Kingdom’s role as a mediator and its $400 million aid pledge to Kyiv.
A Ceremonial Spotlight on Peace
The lavish welcome unfolded as Zelenskyy arrived Monday evening, greeted by Prince Mohammed and senior Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.
Footage showed the leaders exchanging warm gestures against a backdrop of Saudi and Ukrainian flags lining King Abdulaziz Road, per Bloomberg reports.
Their official session, held post-sunset after Ramadan fasting, focused on achieving a “sustainable, fair, and comprehensive” peace in Ukraine, according to a joint SPA statement. Zelenskyy, posting on X Monday, called it a “very good meeting,” thanking the Crown Prince for his “wise perspective” and confidence in Ukraine’s future.
Saudi Arabia’s $400 million humanitarian aid package, announced Tuesday via SPA, bolsters its support amid Ukraine’s ongoing conflict, with Prince Mohammed reaffirming the Kingdom’s mediation efforts during a Friday call with Zelenskyy.
The talks also touched on prisoner releases and economic ties, with Zelenskyy pitching a minerals deal—a nod to prior U.S. negotiations disrupted by his February 28 Oval Office spat with Trump.
A Springboard for Ceasefire Talks
Zelenskyy’s Jeddah visit preceded a pivotal March 11 meeting between Ukrainian officials—led by Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak—and U.S. counterparts, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, hosted by Saudi Arabia.
The Crown Prince’s reception laid groundwork for Ukraine’s acceptance of a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia, announced Tuesday by Zelenskyy, per CNN, with Trump lifting aid suspensions in response.
European leaders like Emmanuel Macron praised the progress on X, crediting Saudi hospitality, while Rubio noted on Yahoo that “tough steps” from both sides are next.
The grand welcome, attended by figures like Deputy Governor Prince Saud bin Mishaal, signals Saudi Arabia’s bid to broker peace, building on past efforts like its 2023 Ukraine summit.
However, Russia’s overnight Kyiv drone strikes and Peskov’s skepticism—“Kyiv doesn’t want peace”—cast shadows, per The Independent.
Still, Zelenskyy’s gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s “pivotal role,” voiced Tuesday on X, underscores the Kingdom’s rising influence as Trump navigates tariffs and domestic cuts.
A Diplomatic Power Play
Prince Mohammed’s ceremonial flourish—complete with Ramadan timing—marries tradition with strategy, positioning Saudi Arabia as a neutral heavyweight amid U.S.-Russia tensions.
The $400 million aid, detailed by Inshorts, and talks on trust-building steps like prisoner swaps reflect a pragmatic push, though analysts warn of limits without Putin’s buy-in. As Zelenskyy skips Tuesday’s U.S. talks for Kyiv, per CNBC, and Trump eyes a second White House invite, the Jeddah welcome marks a diplomatic win for Saudi Arabia—one that could shape Ukraine’s war-weary path, if the ceasefire holds.
