By Steve Holland, Gram Slattery and Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. officials are planning to use Tuesday's meeting with a Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia in part to determine whether Ukraine is willing to make material concessions to Russia to end the war,

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio set off on Sunday to fly to Saudi Arabia for talks with Ukraine, as President Donald Trump decides whether to relent on a freeze in military and intelligence support.

The United States has confirmed talks with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia next week aimed at establishing a peace framework leading to an end to the three-year-long Ukraine-Russia war.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Saudi Arabia over March 10-12 for talks with Ukrainian counterparts, a statement from the U.S. Department of State said.

Delegates from Kyiv and Washington intend to meet in Saudi Arabia and discuss positions to take in potential peace talks with Russia. DW looks at the significance of the meeting and what Ukraine stands to gain from it.

US secretary of state will meet Ukrainian counterpart to advance Washington's goal to end Russia-Ukraine war, says State Department - Anadolu Ajansı

The US delegation will also be watching for signs that the Ukrainians are serious about improving ties with the Trump administration after the White House clash

While in Jeddah, Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region and strengthen the U.S.-Saudi relationship, said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia this week. Meanwhile, Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine. Holly Williams has the latest.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to head Sunday to Saudi Arabia for talks with Ukraine as President Donald Trump decides whether to relent on an aid freeze