“Getting There”: Waltz Offers Brief Update as U.S.-Ukraine Talks Continue in Saudi Arabia

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz were seen walking through the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian officials entered their fourth hour, CNN reported on March 11.

When asked by a CNN reporter how the talks were progressing, Waltz responded briefly: “Getting there.”

Shortly after, both officials stepped into an elevator, taking a break from the ongoing discussions.

The high-level meeting comes at a critical time as Washington and Kyiv navigate the future of U.S. support for Ukraine amid Russia’s continued war of aggression.

Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s Presidential Chief of Staff, described the talks as off to a positive start.

“The meeting with the U.S. team started very constructively, and we are working to bring about a just and lasting peace,” Yermak said.

Yermak is part of Ukraine’s delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and other top officials. The Ukrainian team is meeting with Rubio and Waltz in Saudi Arabia as part of ongoing discussions about security assistance and long-term peace efforts.

Earlier, Yermak in an opinion article for The Guardian wrote that Ukraine has never been closer to a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia, but achieving a lasting peace will require strong U.S. leadership, tougher sanctions, and firm security guarantees.

“As I arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a ceasefire in the three-year war the Russian Federation has waged on my country has never seemed closer,” Yermak stated.