Israel’s Overseas Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as he arrives in Israel, on the primary leg of his Center East journey, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Feb. 15, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
Senior officers from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will begin peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia within the coming days, in accordance with a U.S. lawmaker and a supply accustomed to the planning.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz and White Home Center East envoy Steve Witkoff will journey to Saudi Arabia, U.S. Consultant Michael McCaul advised Reuters in Munich.
A supply with data of the plans confirmed the talks.
Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022. Russia occupies round a fifth of Ukraine and has demanded Kyiv cede territory and change into completely impartial underneath any peace deal. Ukraine calls for Russia withdraw from captured land and needs NATO membership or equal safety ensures to stop Moscow from attacking once more.
Rubio held a telephone name on Saturday along with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and mentioned the battle in Ukraine, each events mentioned. They agreed on common contacts to organize for a gathering between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, Russia’s Overseas Ministry mentioned.
McCaul, chairman of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee, mentioned it was his understanding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been invited to take part within the Saudi talks.
McCaul mentioned the talks had been geared toward arranging a gathering with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy “to lastly convey peace and finish this battle.”
When requested concerning the deliberate assembly between U.S. and Russian officers in Saudi Arabia, Zelenskyy — in Germany for the Munich Safety Convention — advised reporters: “Perhaps there’s something (on) the desk, however not on our desk. I did not see any invites … (for) Ukraine to satisfy with another envoys.”
He mentioned it could be unusual for him to talk with U.S. and Russian officers in Saudi Arabia “if earlier than we (have not) had any negotiation between us and our strategic companions. As I bear in mind, Russia shouldn’t be our strategic accomplice.”
Zelenskyy mentioned on Friday he would go to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, however didn’t say when. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian chief mentioned he had no plans to satisfy with U.S. or Russian officers throughout these visits.
Zelenskyy mentioned earlier on Saturday that Ukraine would by no means settle for any peace offers reached behind its again or with out Kyiv’s involvement. Ukraine has repeatedly mentioned it desires to come back along with america and Europe to plan a joint technique earlier than any Trump-Putin assembly.
Trump’s unilateral overture to Putin on Wednesday, accompanied by obvious concessions on Ukraine’s principal calls for, raised alarm for each Kyiv and the European allies in NATO who mentioned they feared the White Home would possibly make a deal with out them.
European officers took an exceptionally agency line, saying any settlement could be unattainable to implement until they and the Ukrainians had been included in negotiating it.
Trump, chatting with reporters on the White Home on Thursday, mentioned Ukraine would have a seat on the desk throughout any peace negotiations with Russia over ending the battle.
Negotiations on a essential minerals deal continued, with Zelenskyy saying a draft from Washington didn’t comprise the safety provisions that Kyiv wanted. Three sources mentioned america had proposed taking possession of fifty% of Ukraine’s essential minerals.
