U.S. and Russian Officials to Meet in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine Peace Talks

WASHINGTON: U.S. and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to initiate talks aimed at ending the nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine, according to U.S. Representative Michael McCaul and sources familiar with the discussions. The meeting, which will involve U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, is expected to pave the way for a potential summit between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, with the goal of bringing peace to the region.

However, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, who met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday, expressed his concerns, stating that Ukraine had not been invited to the talks and would not engage with Russia until consulting with strategic partners. Zelenskiy also emphasized that Ukraine would not compromise its position without ensuring sufficient security guarantees.

The U.S. delegation is planning to engage in discussions with Russian officials, though the identities of those attending the talks from Russia are yet to be clarified. The U.S. has been vocal in its commitment to ending the war swiftly, with Trump reiterating his stance in a recent phone call to both Putin and Zelenskiy.

Trump’s envoy to Ukraine raised concerns that European allies may be excluded from the peace process, especially after the U.S. reportedly sent a questionnaire to European capitals to inquire about their contributions to security guarantees for Ukraine. This move has sparked alarm among European leaders, fearing their sidelining in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, U.S. and Russian officials are working to arrange a meeting between Putin and Trump, as confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Rubio’s recent conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

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As Ukraine continues to defend its territory, with Russia controlling a significant portion of the country, Zelenskiy plans visits to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, although he has no plans to meet with U.S. or Russian officials during these trips.

In related news, the U.S. and Ukraine are negotiating a deal to open up Ukraine’s vast natural resources to U.S. investment, with the U.S. reportedly proposing to take control of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals. However, Zelenskiy has expressed concerns over the deal’s lack of necessary security provisions for Ukraine.