In the coming days, U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine was not invited, emphasizing consultations with allies before any engagement. Key U.S. officials aim to facilitate a meeting involving Presidents Trump, Putin, and Zelenskiy, while concerns grow over Europe’s exclusion from the negotiation process.
United States and Russian officials are set to convene in Saudi Arabia imminently to initiate discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as reported by a U.S. lawmaker and a knowledgeable source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine has not been invited to these talks and emphasized that Kyiv will not engage with Russia without prior consultations with its strategic partners.
The U.S. delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, as noted by U.S. Representative Michael McCaul during the Munich Security Conference. However, the identities of the Russian officials participating in the talks remain unspecified.
The primary goal of these negotiations is to arrange a meeting among U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and President Zelenskiy, as articulated by McCaul in an earlier statement meant to achieve peace and conclude the conflict. A source close to the planning confirmed that talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia are indeed forthcoming.
Secretary Rubio had already planned to visit Saudi Arabia amid his first tour of the Middle East, which commenced with his arrival in Israel. Earlier, he engaged in a conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, reaffirming Trump’s intent to find a resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, as stated by the State Department, with regular dialogues foreseen to prepare for the meeting between Trump and Putin.
Witkoff, previously engaged in a prisoner exchange earlier this week, traveled to Moscow to facilitate the repatriation of U.S. detainee Marc Fogel. In a recent social media announcement, President Trump assigned Rubio, Waltz, Witkoff, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe to expedite a deal with Russia to ensure an end to the Ukraine war.
President Trump has consistently pledged to bring the Ukraine conflict to a swift conclusion. After separate phone calls with Putin and Zelenskiy, there are growing concerns among Washington’s European allies about being excluded from peace negotiations. These anxieties were echoed when Trump’s envoy noted that Europe would not partake in the discussions.
Zelenskiy, on Friday, announced plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, yet mentioned no intentions of engaging with U.S. or Russian officials during such visits. Currently, Russia maintains control over a significant portion of Ukrainian territory and continues to make slow advances in the east while Ukraine’s forces face manpower challenges and strive to maintain control over parts of western Russia.
Moscow’s peace demands include ceding territory and permanently neutralizing Ukraine, while Kyiv insists on Russia’s withdrawal and seeks NATO membership or comparable security guarantees. The United States and European allies have provided considerable military aid to Ukraine, while Trump has expressed support for Ukraine under the condition of securing U.S. funding.
Negotiations are underway for a deal that may unlock Ukraine’s abundant natural resources for U.S. investment, with proposals suggesting U.S. ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals. However, President Zelenskiy indicated that the draft agreement lacks essential security provisions that Kyiv requires.
U.S. and Russian officials are preparing for significant discussions in Saudi Arabia, aiming to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Ukraine has expressed disappointment over its exclusion from these talks. As various diplomatic efforts unfold, the focus will be on a potential meeting involving key leaders, while security guarantees remain a contentious issue. The evolving situation highlights the complexities surrounding international negotiations amid ongoing military actions.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
