US, Russia officers to carry peace talks in Saudi Arabia forward of Trump-Putin assembly

0
10
US, Russia officers to carry peace talks in Saudi Arabia forward of Trump-Putin assembly


High Russian officers will maintain talks with U.S. counterparts on restoring ties, negotiating a peaceable settlement to the conflict in Ukraine and making ready a gathering between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin stated Monday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s international affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov will fly to the Saudi capital later within the day to participate within the talks set for Tuesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff advised Fox Information Sunday that he and nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz additionally will participate within the talks.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after touchdown at Palm Seaside Worldwide Airport in West Palm Seaside, Fla ., Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. AP

Peskov stated the talks will probably be primarily targeted on “restoring the whole complicated of U.S.-Russian relations, in addition to making ready potential talks on the Ukrainian settlement and organizing a gathering of the 2 presidents.”

Talking to journalists on a convention name from the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated his nation received’t participate within the talks this week, including that they’d “yield no outcomes,” given the absence of any Ukrainian officers. European governments have additionally demanded a job.

The talks observe final week’s phone name between Trump and Putin through which Trump stated they “agreed to have our respective groups begin negotiations instantly.” The decision upended years of U.S. coverage, ending the isolation of Moscow over its Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. After the decision with Putin, Trump phoned Zelenskyy to tell him about their dialog.

Trump on Sunday advised reporters that Zelenskyy “will probably be concerned,” however didn’t elaborate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for a bilateral assembly with the German Chancellor on the sidelines of the 61st Munich Safety Convention (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany on February 15, 2025. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for a bilateral assembly with the German Chancellor on the sidelines of the 61st Munich Safety Convention (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany on February 15, 2025. POOL/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

Zelenskyy stated he would journey to Turkey on Monday and to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, however that his journey to the Arab nation was unrelated to deliberate U.S.-Russia talks there on Tuesday.

Andriy Yermak, a prime Zelenskyy adviser, stated earlier Sunday there was no risk of Ukrainian and Russian representatives assembly straight within the rapid future. In a Telegram submit, Yermak stated the Ukrainians weren’t planning to take action “till we develop a plan” to finish the conflict and convey a couple of “simply peace.”

Talking on Fox Information Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” program, Witkoff stated he and Waltz will probably be “having conferences on the path of the president,” and hope to make “some actually good progress with regard to Russia-Ukraine.”

In his TV interview, Witkoff didn’t straight reply to a query about whether or not Ukraine must hand over a “significant slice” of its territory as a part of any negotiated settlement.

“These are particulars, and I’m not dismissive of the main points, they’re vital. However I feel the start right here is trust-building. It’s getting everyone to know that this conflict doesn’t belong persevering with, that it ought to finish. That’s what the president has directed us to do,” he stated.


Supply hyperlink