Russian and U.S. officials will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the Ukraine war. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov may attend, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other U.S. officials will support the discussions. The meeting also prepares for a potential summit between Presidents Putin and Trump, but raises concerns about Ukraine’s exclusion from talks.
On Tuesday, Russian and U.S. officials are scheduled to convene in Saudi Arabia to discuss efforts aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This meeting, reported by the Kommersant business newspaper, will be pivotal in addressing key issues related to the war. While particular details on the Russian delegation remain unspecified, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been suggested as a possible representative.
During this period, Lavrov engaged in a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday following a brief stop in Israel. Accompanying him are White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, both of whom are actively participating in these significant talks.
According to reports, preparations are also underway for a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin has assembled a negotiation team that includes prominent officials such as Yury Ushakov, the SVR chief Sergei Naryshkin, and Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
Further, it has been indicated that Dmitriev will discuss enhancing economic ties between Russia and the U.S. at the Saudi talks. Notably, the possibility of U.S.-Russia discussions without direct Ukrainian involvement has triggered concerns regarding the safeguarding of Kyiv’s interests. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Saudi Arabia, confirmed he had no intention of engaging in talks with either side.
Rubio remarked on the necessity of Ukraine’s inclusion in any genuine negotiations, stressing that the country is central to the conversation as it is the nation that faced an invasion. However, he acknowledged that currently, no formal negotiation processes are in place, framing the situation as an initial dialogue between Trump and Putin interested in resolving the conflict.
The upcoming talks between Russian and U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia represent a crucial step towards addressing the Ukraine conflict. With key political figures from both nations participating, there is a significant focus on diplomatic engagement. However, the exclusion of Ukraine from direct discussions raises concerns about the potential neglect of its interests, signaling the need for careful deliberation in any future negotiations.
Original Source: www.themoscowtimes.com
