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 start peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the approaching days, in accordance to a U.S. lawmaker and a supply acquainted with 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 information 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 turn into completely impartial below any peace deal. Ukraine calls for Russia withdraw from captured land and desires NATO membership or equal safety ensures to forestall Moscow from attacking once more.
Rubio held a cellphone name on Saturday together with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, and mentioned the battle in Ukraine, each events stated. They agreed on common contacts to put together for a gathering between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, Russia’s Overseas Ministry stated.
McCaul, chairman of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee, stated it was his understanding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been invited to take part in the Saudi talks.
McCaul stated the talks have been aimed toward arranging a gathering with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy “to lastly convey peace and finish this battle.”
When requested in regards to the deliberate assembly between U.S. and Russian officers in Saudi Arabia, Zelenskyy — in Germany for the Munich Safety Convention — advised reporters: “Possibly there’s something (on) the desk, however not on our desk. I did not see any invites … (for) Ukraine to meet with another envoys.”
He stated it might be unusual for him to communicate 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 keep in mind, Russia will not be our strategic associate.”
Zelenskyy stated on Friday he would go to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, however didn’t say when. Nonetheless, the Ukrainian chief stated he had no plans to meet with U.S. or Russian officers throughout these visits.
Zelenskyy stated 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 stated it desires to come along with the USA and Europe to devise 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 stated they feared the White Home would possibly make a deal with out them.
European officers took an exceptionally agency line, saying any settlement can be inconceivable to implement except they and the Ukrainians have been included in negotiating it.
Trump, talking to reporters on the White Home on Thursday, stated Ukraine would have a seat on the desk throughout any peace negotiations with Russia over ending the struggle.
Negotiations on a vital minerals deal continued, with Zelenskyy saying a draft from Washington didn’t comprise the safety provisions that Kyiv wanted. Three sources stated the USA had proposed taking possession of fifty% of Ukraine’s vital minerals.
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