US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy indicated Kyiv was not invited to the talks. The discussions aim to set up a meeting involving US President Trump, Putin, and Zelenskiy to work towards concluding the conflict. The US is exploring investment opportunities in Ukraine’s critical minerals amid ongoing military support.
US and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia within the next few days to initiate discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as confirmed by a US lawmaker and a source involved in the planning. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who met with US Vice President JD Vance recently, expressed that Ukraine was not invited to the discussions and emphasized that Kyiv would not engage with Russia without first consulting its strategic partners.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, although the Russian officials they will engage with remain unspecified. During the Munich Security Conference, US Representative Michael McCaul indicated the intention to arrange a meeting involving US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and President Zelenskiy in efforts to achieve peace and conclude the ongoing conflict.
While Rubio was previously scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia as part of his inaugural Middle East tour, he engaged in a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to reaffirm Trump’s commitment to resolving the Ukraine conflict. They established a frequency of contacts to set up an anticipated meeting between Trump and Putin, confirmed by Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
Former real estate developer Witkoff, who recently facilitated a prisoner exchange, also traveled to Moscow to retrieve US detainee Marc Fogel. Trump had previously assigned Rubio, Waltz, Witkoff, and CIA chief John Ratcliffe the task of devising a strategy to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. Despite his promise to swiftly conclude the conflict, Trump’s separate calls to both Putin and Zelenskiy alarmed European allies, leading to concerns over their exclusion from the peace discussions.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy indicated plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye but did not disclose specific timings. Importantly, he clarified that he would not meet with US or Russian officials during these visits. Meanwhile, Russia currently controls one-fifth of Ukrainian territory and has been making gradual advancements in the eastern regions as Kyiv struggles with personnel shortages.
In terms of peace negotiations, Russia insists that Ukraine must concede territory and adopt a neutral stance, whereas Ukraine demands the withdrawal of Russian forces and seeks NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees. The United States and European allies have provided Ukraine with substantial military aid since the initiation of the conflict, as Trump indicates he supports Ukraine’s cause while simultaneously seeking security assurances for US financial contributions.
Currently, the United States and Ukraine are in discussions regarding a potential arrangement to exploit Ukraine’s abundant natural resources for US investments. Reports suggest a US proposal to acquire a 50% stake in Ukraine’s critical minerals, but President Zelenskiy noted that the draft agreement lacks essential security provisions that Kyiv requires.
In summary, US and Russian officials are preparing for talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with significant political figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, involved in the discussions. There is notable concern from Ukraine regarding its exclusion from negotiations, underscoring the complexity of international diplomacy surrounding the conflict. As these talks unfold, the positions of both Russia and Ukraine regarding territorial claims and security guarantees remain critical points of contention.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
