Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and chief US diplomat Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of ceasefire talks on Monday as Ukraine's proposal for a partial truce raised hopes of a breakthrough after three years of war.
Zelensky, embroiled in a public row with US President Donald Trump last month, touched down in Jeddah as Rubio cautiously welcomed the idea of an aerial and naval ceasefire.
Tuesday's talks between Ukrainian officials and Rubio's US team will be the first between the two sides since the White House blow-up, when Zelensky left without signing a minerals deal demanded by Trump.
Washington has since suspended military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery in a bid to force it to the negotiating table with Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 on orders from President Vladimir Putin.
"We do have a proposal for a ceasefire in the sky and ceasefire at sea," a Ukrainian official told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"Because these are the ceasefire options that are easy to install and to monitor, and it's possible to start with them."
Rubio indicated the idea had promise. "I'm not saying that alone is enough, but it's the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict," he told reporters. "You're not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions."
Rubio added that he hoped to "resolve" the suspension of military aid that is threatening to hamper Ukraine's campaign.
"I think the notion of the pause in aid, broadly, is something I hope we can resolve. Obviously, what happens tomorrow will be key to that," he said.
Zelensky was expected to meet the de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman later before his officials sit down with the US side on Tuesday.
Britain's Financial Times newspaper, citing a source briefed on preparations for the talks, said Kyiv's offer of a partial ceasefire was aimed at convincing Washington to resume military aid and intelligence-sharing.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Trump in a call on Monday that he hoped the talks would lead to the US resuming military aid to Ukraine, Downing Street said.
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