U.S. and Russia Officials to Discuss Ukraine Conflict in Saudi Arabia
U.S. and Russian officials will convene in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the Ukraine conflict. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has stated Ukraine will only join talks after consulting with allies. The meeting aims to arrange discussions between Presidents Trump and Putin, amid concerns over the exclusion of European nations from the peace process.
U.S. and Russian officials are set to engage in discussions in Saudi Arabia aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as confirmed by a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the arrangements. This meeting follows the recent engagement between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, emphasizing that Ukraine will only participate in talks after consulting its strategic allies.
The U.S. delegation will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, although the Russian representatives involved remain unspecified. Representative Michael McCaul stated that the goal of the talks is to facilitate a meeting between President Donald Trump, President Vladimir Putin, and President Zelenskiy to finalize peace efforts.
On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, McCaul highlighted the importance of establishing direct communication to resolve the conflict. Rubio’s visit to Saudi Arabia, part of his inaugural Middle East tour, had been pre-planned, linking it to the call he made to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss commitments for ending the war.
The meeting follows a prisoner exchange involving Witkoff, enhancing diplomatic channels between the U.S. and Russia. In addition to focusing on ending hostilities, Trump aims to quickly restore stability in Ukraine, although his approach has raised concerns among European allies regarding their exclusion from peace discussions.
While Zelenskiy is preparing to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, he clarified that he has no intentions of meeting with U.S. or Russian officials during these trips. Meanwhile, the ongoing Russian advances have left Ukraine negotiating terms that include territorial demands and commitments to neutrality, complicating the peace process.
In summary, U.S. and Russian officials are scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss potential resolutions to the conflict in Ukraine. The exclusion of Ukraine from these talks raises significant concerns regarding the representation of its interests. As both nations prepare for negotiations, the underlying territorial disputes and commitments will be critical discussions to achieve lasting peace.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
