Next Ceasefire Meeting with Russia Scheduled in Saudi Arabia

U.S. Special Representative Steve Witkoff announced a meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss a ceasefire with Russia. Key points include progress made in meetings with President Putin on energy infrastructure and Black Sea maritime security. A high-level U.S. delegation will attend, and President Zelensky supports the ceasefire while remaining vigilant against violations.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President’s Special Representative for the Middle East, confirmed the next meeting with Russian officials will take place in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. In an interview with Fox News, he shared details from two previous meetings he had with President Putin, which lasted between three and four hours each. He expressed that significant progress was made, particularly in narrowing the focus on key issues from the Russian perspective.
During these discussions, Witkoff noted that they explored tangible steps towards a ceasefire encompassing energy infrastructure as well as maritime security in the Black Sea. He expressed optimism that both the U.S. and Russian sides have agreed upon these points and is hopeful for Ukrainian agreement as well. More discussions to refine these details were anticipated to begin during the session in Jeddah.
The American delegation heading to Saudi Arabia will include U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicating a high-level commitment to the negotiations. This news follows a phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin, wherein methods to conclude the ongoing conflict in Ukraine were deliberated.
President Zelensky of Ukraine responded positively to the conversations between Trump and Putin, indicating support for a ceasefire that would prevent strikes aimed at energy infrastructure. However, he also asserted that Ukraine would respond if there were any violations of the agreements reached during the talks, highlighting the vigilance of the Ukrainian administration in safeguarding its interests.
In summary, the upcoming meeting in Saudi Arabia represents a significant diplomatic effort by the Trump administration to establish a ceasefire agreement concerning energy and maritime security in the Ukraine conflict. The involvement of senior officials, along with positive indications of cooperation from Russia, sets a hopeful tone for future discussions, although Ukraine remains prepared to respond to any potential violations by Russia. The session in Jeddah will be crucial for refining the agreements reached thus far.
Original Source: www.ukrinform.net