High-ranking US and Russian language officials will hold talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to end the war in Ukraine as the Trump administration is about to negotiate the end of the conflict almost three years ago.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is in the Middle East on his first foreign trip, will lead a US delegation. He joined by Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz, who spoke in an interview with Fox News on Sunday Morning Futures.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov, will take part in the talks on Tuesday.
Peskov said the talks “focus on restoring the entire US-Russian relations complex, preparing consultations on a Ukrainian settlement, and organizing a meeting of two presidents.
Ukrainian and European officials will not be taking part in this week's discussion.
Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky made it clear at the negotiation table that he would not accept any deals made without Kiev.
“I will never accept decisions between the US and Russia regarding Ukraine. He told NBC News' Kristen Welker in an interview aired Sunday on “Meet the Press.”
“The war in Ukraine is against us, and that is our human loss,” Zelensky added. “And we are grateful for all our support, for our unity between the United States. We are grateful for all of this in the United States, with its focus on Ukraine support, bipartisan unity and bipartisan support. But There is no leader in the world in which we can do business with Putin without us, without us.”
President Trump told reporters on Sunday that he hopes Zelensky will be involved in peace talks with Russia.
“Yeah, yes. I do. He'll be involved,” he said without elaborating.
Zelensky is traveling to the Middle East this week, but he told journalists that his trip has nothing to do with the Russian and US conferences. he visit The United Arab Emirates traveled to Türkiye on Monday and will be in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed.
