U.S. and Ukrainian officials are engaging in talks in Saudi Arabia to present a ceasefire plan between Ukraine and Russia. The discussions involve halting missile strikes and establishing a truce in the Black Sea. While military aid and mineral resources are on the agenda, the main focus remains on negotiating practical outcomes and concessions for peace.
U.S. and Ukrainian officials commenced discussions in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, focusing on Ukraine’s proposed partial ceasefire with Russia. This plan aims to halt long-range missile strikes and establish a truce in the Black Sea region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not participate; however, representatives included Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and military commander Pavlo Palisa.
In a pre-meeting statement on social media, President Zelenskyy expressed hope for “practical outcomes” from the discussions. The American delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, is motivated by President Donald Trump’s initiative to expedite a resolution to the ongoing conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in early 2022.
Secretary Rubio indicated the United States aims to address the recent pause in aid to Ukraine, emphasizing that the U.S. is currently listening to understand potential concessions from Ukraine. He remarked, “The Ukrainians are already receiving all defensive intelligence information as we speak,” and acknowledged the significance of the upcoming discussions for resolving aid issues.
Rubio also stated, “We’re not going to be sitting in a room drawing lines on a map,” indicating that the talks aim to gauge feasible concessions from the Ukrainian side. Stressing the absence of a military solution, he remarked that both Russia and Ukraine must undertake challenging decisions.
Further discussions about mineral resources arose, as Trump has indicated interest in linking military assistance to access to Ukraine’s raw materials such as uranium, lithium, and titanium, essential for the U.S. economy. Despite this, Rubio clarified that negotiations concerning mineral resources were not the primary objective of Tuesday’s discussions, stating, “It’s an important topic, but it’s not the main topic on the agenda.”
Rubio also acknowledged the constructive contributions of Britain and France in the talks with Ukraine and dismissed the concept of involving China in postwar peacekeeping roles. This event marks Rubio’s second visit to Saudi Arabia since assuming office, and he plans to travel to Canada for G7 foreign ministers’ meetings following this trip.
The discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia focus on a proposed partial ceasefire plan intended to stabilize the ongoing conflict with Russia. Although issues surrounding military aid and mineral resources were broached, the primary emphasis remains on achieving a truce. Effective outcomes from these negotiations may hinge on mutual concessions, with acknowledgment of the supportive roles played by other nations such as Britain and France.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
