US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia in an effort to negotiate with Russian officials over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. National security adviser Michael Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff will also take part in the talks. The trip comes after President Donald Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin, where they agreed to start negotiations immediately.
The US administration sees these talks as early-stage discussions that could lead to a breakthrough in the conflict. However, it is unclear whether any Ukrainians will participate in the talks. Ukrainian officials have expressed concerns about negotiations that do not include their country.
Trump has stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be involved in the talks but did not provide further details. European governments have also demanded a role for Ukraine in the negotiations.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff hopes to make “good progress” with Russia-Ukraine discussions, stating that trust-building is key to ending the war. Ukrainian officials remain skeptical about the possibility of direct talks with Russian representatives.
The recent shift in US policy has sent shockwaves through Europe and the international community, with many considering it a potential turning point for Ukraine and the wider region.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-talks-negotiations-saudi-51b77cdf699f13ad16cb00bbf371b840