MK socks Saudi Arabia, to discuss issues related to ending the Ukraine conflict on March 11, 2025. Photo: VCG." src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-03-11/8f636527-3222-4159-bf9b-9962d6a82f7a.jpeg" />

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak (R) attends the meeting between the Ukrainian and US delegations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss issues related to ending the Ukraine conflict on March 11, 2025. Photo: VCG.

Top US officials met with a Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, aiming to find a path toward ending the conflict with Russia. The talks took place hours after Kiev launched its largest drone attack on Moscow to date. 

Chinese experts said that choosing the location previously used for US-Russia talks exposes Washington's "deep distrust" toward Kiev and Europe. 

According to a CNN live coverage, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was present, sitting next to National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. On the Ukrainian side, top aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Andriy Yermak, was in the center, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov alongside him.

The two sides will discuss "the framework for formulating a peace agreement and a preliminary ceasefire" as well as issues related to the US-Ukraine minerals agreement, among other matters, China Central Television reported on Tuesday.

When asked what are China's expectations for this meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that China supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis. "We hope that parties can find a just and lasting solution that is acceptable to all sides. China is ready to work with the international community, and continue to play a constructive role for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis," Mao said. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes the talks in Jeddah will revive "pragmatic" US ties after his disastrous meeting with US President Donald Trump earlier, Reuters reported.

"We hope for practical outcomes," Zelensky said ahead of the talks in a post on X late on Monday. "Ukraine's position in these talks will be fully constructive." 

Rubio said they wanted to get more details on Kiev's position and what possible concessions Ukraine might be willing to make in a deal, CNN reported. Rubio said the outcome of the meeting "will be key" to whether the US pause in military aid and intelligence sharing is lifted.

Speaking while en route to Jeddah on Monday, Rubio said Ukraine "would need to make territorial concessions" as part of any agreement to end the conflict, the Kyiv Independent reported.

Holding the US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia "seems unusual," said Lü Xiang, an expert on US studies and a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "Given their previously close relationship, the meeting could have taken place anywhere in Europe or even in the US. Choosing a location used for US-Russia talks indicates deep distrust not only between Washington and Kiev but also between US and Europe," Lü told the Global Times. 

Overnight, Ukraine launched its biggest drone attack on Moscow to date by deploying at least 91 drones, killing at least one person, sparking fires, closing airports and forcing dozens of flights to be diverted, Russian officials said, per a Reuters report. 

The Russian military said Tuesday air defenses shot down 337 Ukrainian drones overnight across 10 Russian regions. 

Sun Xiuwen, an associate professor at the Institute for Central Asian Studies at Lanzhou University, said that the drone attack is not only in retaliation for Russia's recent military strikes, but more importantly, shows Kiev's rejection of a US "peace plan."

Through such action, Ukraine is showing its will to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and demonstrating it still has the backing of European countries, Sun told the Global Times. 

The US is likely pushing for a ceasefire deal as soon as possible, so that it can address more pressing domestic issues like economic challenges and stock market crashes, Lü noted.