U.S. and Ukrainian officials initiated talks in Saudi Arabia to pursue peace with Russia, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions aim to assess Ukraine’s willingness to make concessions for a ceasefire, as delegates from both sides convene in Jeddah. Steve Witkoff expressed hope for a forthcoming minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian and U.S. officials commenced discussions in Saudi Arabia aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict with Russia, as reported by Reuters. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the significance of these talks in understanding Ukraine’s readiness to make concessions necessary for peace. He stated, ‘We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they’d be willing to make, because you’re not going to get a ceasefire and an end to this war unless both sides make concessions.’
Joining Secretary Rubio are U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and a delegation from Ukraine led by Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Although President Zelenskyy was in Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he will not be participating in the discussion.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry confirmed the commencement of the U.S.-Ukraine meeting in Jeddah, sharing a video of high-ranking Ukrainian officials entering the meeting room at approximately 0900 GMT. Additionally, Steve Witkoff, special envoy for the Middle East under former President Trump, expressed optimism that a deal regarding U.S.-Ukraine minerals would soon be finalized.
In conclusion, the U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia mark a significant step towards peace negotiations aimed at resolving the war with Russia. U.S. officials are focusing on understanding Ukraine’s concession stance to facilitate a potential ceasefire. The involvement of key diplomats underscores the importance of these discussions, with hopes also pinned on upcoming deals concerning minerals.
Original Source: armenpress.am
