U.S. and Russia to Hold Ukraine Talks in Saudi Arabia

Officials from the U.S. and Russia will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Key representatives such as Lavrov and Rubio are expected to attend, while fears persist regarding Ukrainian interests being overlooked in the talks.

Russian and U.S. officials are scheduled to convene in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in an effort to discuss a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, as reported by the Kommersant business newspaper. While the specific representatives from Russia have not been confirmed, there are indications that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov may participate in the discussions.

In recent communications, Lavrov had a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia after a brief stop in Israel. Rubio is anticipated to be accompanied by White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, who also confirmed his travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday night.

Reports suggest that the delegations are also preparing for a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, as highlighted by Bloomberg. Igor Ushakov, Chief Sergei Naryshkin of the Foreign Intelligence Service, and Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, have been named as members of Putin’s negotiating team.

According to Interfax, Dmitriev is set to attend the talks to focus on enhancing economic relations between Moscow and Washington. The proposition for a meeting in Saudi Arabia was initially mentioned by Trump after a recent call with Putin, and Riyadh indicated its willingness to host the summit.

The anticipated U.S.-Russia discussions, conducted without Ukrainian representation, have raised concerns regarding the consideration of Ukraine’s interests. Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his absence from any discussions with U.S. or Russian officials while attending events in Saudi Arabia.

Rubio emphasized that Ukraine must be involved in any legitimate negotiations, given its status as the country under invasion. However, he noted the absence of any ongoing negotiation process, clarifying that current dialogues consist merely of a call between Putin and Trump reflecting mutual interest in conflict resolution.

In summary, the upcoming U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia aim to address the war in Ukraine, with leading officials from both nations expected to participate. The discussions have raised concerns regarding the exclusion of Ukrainian interests. However, involvement from key figures, including Lavrov and Rubio, may signal a pivotal step towards potential negotiations beyond current engagements.

Original Source: www.themoscowtimes.com