The US Department of State announced on Sunday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Saudi Arabia from March 10-12 to hold discussions with his Ukrainian counterparts.

A statement from spokesperson Tammy Bruce mentioned that Rubio will also meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

After his time in Saudi Arabia, Rubio will head to Canada for the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for March 12-14.

It’s worth noting that Rubio had a conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Friday, during which he expressed that President Donald Trump aims to bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to an end as soon as possible.

Trump had halted military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28.

Zelenskyy has also confirmed plans to visit Saudi Arabia for a Monday meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, with Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives set to meet the U.S. team on Tuesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia conducted over 2,100 aerial bomb attacks on Ukraine in the past week.

In a post on his X account on Sunday, Zelenskyy also stated that Russian forces launched nearly 870 attack drones and more than 80 missiles of various types at Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that many of Russia’s weapons depend on foreign-made components.

“Throughout this week, Russia has carried out hundreds of attacks against our people using various types of weapons: around 1,200 guided aerial bombs, nearly 870 attack drones, and over 80 missiles of different types,” Zelenskyy wrote.

“Every Shahed drone and aerial bomb Russia uses contains components supplied in circumvention of sanctions. These weapons include more than 82,000 foreign components.

“Every day, we work with our partners to ensure that decisions are made to provide life-saving support: air defense systems, investments in our defense production, and the strengthening of sanctions against Russia.

“We continue our efforts to bring a just peace closer and ensure reliable security guarantees.”

Ukraine and Russia have been engaged in conflict for more than three years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.

The newly elected leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Mark Carney sharply criticised United States President Donald Trump in his victory speech on Sunday, Forbes reported.

Carney rejected Trump’s suggestion that Canada should become the 51st US state, declaring that “Canada will never, ever… be a part of America in any way, shape or form.”

The economist, who previously served as governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, also condemned Trump’s trade policies, accusing the US president of attempting to weaken Canada’s economy through unjustified tariffs.

Carney warned that if Trump succeeded in his objectives, it would lead to the destruction of Canada’s way of life.

The prime minister-designate said the Americans “want our resources, our water, our land, our country…if they succeeded, they would destroy our way of life.”

Carney, speaking on the U.S. healthcare system, saying, “In America, healthcare is a big business…in Canada it is a right.”

The newly elected leader, who won the leadership race with nearly 86 percent of the vote, vowed to maintain retaliatory tariffs against the US “until the Americans show us respect.”

He framed Canada’s response as part of a broader effort to protect the country’s resources, economy, and sovereignty.

Carney is poised to take over from Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister after being sworn in by the country’s Governor General.

Trudeau announced his decision to step down earlier this year, facing pressure from his own party. Following his swearing-in, Carney is expected to call for an early federal election.