US, Russia to meet in Saudi Arabia over Ukraine war, but Kyiv is not invited
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(From left) White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz will travel to Saudi Arabia.
PHOTO: AFP
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MUNICH/WASHINGTON – US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending Moscow’s nearly three-year war in Ukraine, a US lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning said on Feb 15.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met US Vice-President J.D. Vance in Germany on Feb 14, said Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia and that Kyiv would not engage with Russia before consulting strategic partners.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, US Representative Michael McCaul told Reuters. It was not immediately clear who they would meet from Russia.
On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Mr McCaul said the aim of the talks was to arrange a meeting between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mr Zelensky “to finally bring peace and end this conflict”.
A source with knowledge of the plans confirmed the planned talks in Saudi Arabia between US and Russian officials. The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr Trump, who took office on Jan 20, has repeatedly vowed to swiftly end the Ukraine war. He made separate phone calls to Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky on Feb 12, leaving Washington’s European allies alarmed that they will be cut out of any peace process.
Those fears were largely confirmed on Feb 15 when Mr Trump’s Ukraine envoy said Europe will not have a seat at the table, after Washington sent a questionnaire to European capitals to ask what they could contribute to security guarantees for Kyiv.
Minerals deal
Earlier on Feb 15, Mr Rubio spoke with his Russian counterpart, Mr Sergei Lavrov. They agreed on regular contacts to prepare for a meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Trump, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.
Mr Zelensky said on Feb 14 that he would visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but did not say when. However, the Ukrainian leader said he had no plans to meet US or Russian officials during those visits.
On Feb 15, he said Ukraine would never accept any peace deals reached behind its back
Moscow controls a fifth of Ukraine and has been slowly advancing in the east for months, while Kyiv’s smaller army grapples with manpower shortages and tries to hold a chunk of territory in western Russia.
Russia has demanded Kyiv cede territory and become permanently neutral under any peace deal. Ukraine demands Russia withdraw from captured land and wants Nato membership or equivalent security guarantees to prevent attacks by Moscow.
The US and Europe have given Ukraine tens of billions of dollars in military aid since the war started. Mr Trump has said he backs Ukraine but is seeking security for US funding for Kyiv.
The US and Ukraine are currently negotiating a deal that could open up Ukraine’s vast natural wealth to US investment.
Three sources said the US proposed taking ownership of 50 per cent of Ukraine’s critical minerals. Mr Zelensky said on Feb 15 that the draft deal did not contain the security provisions
REUTERS
