U.S. and Russian officials are scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia soon to begin discussions aimed at resolving Moscow's nearly three-year conflict with Ukraine, as announced by a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the arrangement on Saturday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Friday that Ukraine had not been invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia and would not engage with Russia without consulting strategic partners.
U.S. Representative Michael McCaul informed Reuters that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia for the talks. The specific Russian counterparts for these discussions were not immediately disclosed.
McCaul, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, mentioned that the primary objective of the talks is to facilitate a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Zelenskiy "to finally bring peace and end this conflict."
Sources with knowledge of the plans confirmed the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials. The U.S. State Department did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Trump, who assumed office on January 20, has frequently pledged to promptly resolve the Ukraine conflict. He recently contacted both Putin and Zelenskiy, sidelining Washington's European allies in the peace process.
Amid growing concerns, it was revealed that Europe would not have a role in the discussions after Washington reached out to European capitals seeking their input regarding support for Kyiv.
Additionally, Rubio had a conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to coordinate efforts ahead of a Putin-Trump meeting, as reported by Russia's Foreign Ministry.
Zelenskiy announced plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, indicating no scheduled meetings with U.S. or Russian officials during these visits.
The conflict in Ukraine continues as Moscow holds a portion of the country and advances in the east, while Kyiv's forces face challenges due to manpower shortages while striving to maintain control in western Russia.
Both parties have differing demands for a peace agreement – Russia seeks territorial concessions and permanent neutrality from Ukraine, while Ukraine demands the return of captured land and NATO membership or similar security assurances against potential Russian aggression.
The U.S. and Europe have provided substantial military aid to Ukraine. Trump endorsed Ukraine but is conditionally linking ongoing U.S. financial support to Kyiv's security.
There are discussions ongoing between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding potential investment opportunities in Ukraine's natural resources. However, a draft agreement proposing U.S. ownership of 50% of Ukraine's critical minerals lacks the necessary security guarantees, according to Zelenskiy.