U.S. and Russian Officials Set to Meet in Saudi Arabia Amid Ukraine Tensions
A U.S. delegation will hold talks with Russian officials on February 18 in Saudi Arabia to discuss the war in Ukraine, led by Secretary of State Rubio. Ukrainian officials have raised concerns about their exclusion from the negotiations. A potential leaders’ summit may follow. President Zelensky confirmed he would not engage with either delegation during his Middle East visit.
A U.S. delegation is scheduled to meet with Russian officials on February 18 in Saudi Arabia, with the aim of discussing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The delegation, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, is expected to start formal discussions. The identity of the Russian negotiators remains uncertain, but it is anticipated that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be present at the talks.
Concerns have been raised regarding Ukraine’s exclusion from the negotiations, with European officials stressing that Kyiv must not be marginalized. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed surprise at learning about the meeting through the media, stating, “We didn’t talk about it. The media printed something. I saw that someone said that there would be a meeting in Saudi Arabia. I do not know what it is.”
Furthermore, Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelensky, stated that Ukraine would not be participating in the upcoming meeting, asserting, “There is nothing on the negotiating table that would be worth discussing… Russia is not ready for negotiations.” This reflects skepticism about the possibility of productive dialogue between the U.S. and Russia.
Reports indicate that the U.S. aims to hold a bilateral meeting with Russia before subsequently involving Ukraine. President Donald Trump reiterated that Zelensky would have a voice in the negotiation process, hinting at potential support for European nations to acquire U.S. weapons for Ukraine. Rubio emphasized the importance of Ukraine and Europe in serious negotiations with the U.S. and Russia.
The negotiations are intended as a precursor to a possible leaders’ summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month. The meetings coincide with Zelensky’s official visit to the UAE and subsequent planned trips to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. However, Zelensky made it clear that he does not plan to engage with Russian or U.S. delegations while in the Middle East.
In summary, a U.S. delegation will meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia on February 18 to discuss the war in Ukraine. Despite the absence of Ukraine from the talks, U.S. officials stress the importance of Kyiv’s involvement in negotiations. Amidst concerns about misleading information, the outcomes of these discussions are awaited with cautious optimism, especially regarding future leadership summits.
Original Source: kyivindependent.com
