U.S. and Russian representatives are scheduled to convene in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to initiate discussions aimed at resolving Moscow’s nearly three-year conflict in Ukraine, according to a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the arrangements.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday, noted that Ukraine was not invited to the Saudi talks and emphasized that Kyiv would not engage with Russia without prior consultation with its strategic partners.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff are set to travel to Saudi Arabia, as reported by U.S. Representative Michael McCaul to Reuters. It remains unclear who their Russian counterparts will be.
During the Munich Security Conference, McCaul stated that the objective of the discussions is to facilitate a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Zelenskiy “to ultimately achieve peace and resolve this conflict.”
A knowledgeable source confirmed the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials. The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to requests for comments.
Trump, who assumed office on January 20, has consistently pledged to bring a swift end to the war in Ukraine. He made separate phone calls to both Putin and Zelenskiy on Wednesday, raising concerns among Washington’s European allies about being excluded from any peace negotiations.
These concerns were largely validated on Saturday when Trump’s envoy for Ukraine indicated that Europe would not be included in the discussions, following Washington’s distribution of a questionnaire to European capitals regarding their potential contributions to security guarantees for Kyiv.
MINERALS DEAL
On Saturday, Rubio held discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. They reached an agreement to maintain regular communication in preparation for a meeting between Putin and Trump, as reported by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
Zelenskiy announced on Friday his intention to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, although he did not specify the dates. He clarified that he does not plan to engage with U.S. or Russian officials during these trips.
Currently, Moscow occupies approximately 20% of Ukraine and has been gradually advancing in the eastern regions for several months. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s smaller military is facing challenges with manpower and is striving to maintain control over parts of western Russia.
Russia has insisted that Ukraine relinquish territory and adopt a stance of permanent neutrality as part of any peace agreement. Conversely, Ukraine demands the withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied areas and seeks NATO membership or equivalent security assurances to deter potential aggression from Moscow.
Since the onset of the conflict, the United States and Europe have provided Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in military assistance. Trump has expressed his support for Ukraine but is advocating for security measures in exchange for U.S. financial aid to Kyiv.
Currently, negotiations are underway between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding a potential agreement that would facilitate U.S. investment in Ukraine’s extensive natural resources. According to three sources, the U.S. has proposed acquiring ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals. However, Zelenskiy stated on Saturday that the preliminary agreement lacks the necessary security provisions that Kyiv requires.
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