On February 17, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at ending Moscow's involvement in Ukraine.
The discussions follow a recent phone call between the President and the Russian President, where negotiations to halt the conflict were initiated.
U.S. and Russian officials, including Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, are set to meet in Saudi Arabia, supported by Trump's national security adviser and White House Middle East envoy.
The talks, reportedly scheduled for Tuesday in Riyadh, mark a significant step as high-level, in-person interactions between Russian and U.S. representatives have been rare in recent years.
The outcomes of these discussions will play a crucial role in determining Putin's commitment to achieving peace.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy, currently in the United Arab Emirates with plans to visit Saudi Arabia and Turkey, is not expected to participate in the Saudi-hosted talks involving Rubio and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia, alongside other Arab nations, rejects resettling Palestinians in other Arab countries and plans to propose an alternative solution involving a reconstruction fund led by Gulf nations while sidelining Hamas.
MbS has emphasized that Saudi Arabia will not normalize relations with Israel unless there is a clear pathway to a Palestinian state, in line with Washington's interests.
Rubio’s visit to Israel on Sunday aimed to bolster regional alliances, particularly in the context of Iran's influence.