First details emerge from inside US-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia - as Kyiv official offers blunt appraisal of discussions involving Zelensky's friend 'who Trump hates'

Talks between US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia are going 'OK', a senior Ukrainian official said in a blunt appraisal as diplomats met for crunch talks on rebuilding bridges and ending the war with Russia. Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak with delegation members arriving for a meeting with US officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 11 March US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the meeting between the Ukrainian and US delegations in Jeddah A view of a damaged apartment building following a Ukrainian drone attack in Ramenskoe, outside Moscow, Russia, 11 March 2025 Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clash in the Oval Office on February 28 Yermak, 53, was a central figure in the Hunter Biden scandal which saw Trump accused of pressuring Zelensky to dig up dirt on Joe Biden's family in exchange for military aid - allegations that led to the US president's impeachment. Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak pictured at the meeting today U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak hold a meeting in the presence of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, March 11, 2025 Paramedics treat a injured civilian following Russian bombardment of a residential building in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, on March 11, 2025 Yermak had no political or diplomatic experience before he was granted an administrative role in Zelensky's government in 2019. Andriy Yermak only posted 'work in progress' as talks were underway on March 11 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holding a meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Royal Palace in Jeddah on March 10, 2025 A child looks at destroyed Russian military vehicles displayed in downtown Kyiv on March 4, 2025 Smoke billows above the site of a drone attack in Odesa, southern Ukraine, 11 March 2025 Although he was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing, the episode reportedly deepened the US president's animosity toward Zelensky, and by extension, Yermak. A woman visits the "The Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine", a memorial for fallen Ukrainian soldiers, in downtown Kyiv on March 4, 2025 Ukrainian officials this week admitted they still think Trump bears ill will toward Yermak, though they hope US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's presence will help to calm any tensions between the two delegations But Yermak saw the lack of a definitive job description as an opportunity and reportedly began consolidating outsized power by effectively becoming Zelensky's constant shadow.