According to a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the preparations, senior officials from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will begin peace negotiations with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.
U.S. Representative Michael McCaul told Reuters that White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Saudi Arabia.
According to McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, has been invited to take part.
According to him, the goal of the discussions was to set up a meeting with Zelenskiy, Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin “to finally bring peace and end this conflict.”
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On Saturday, Zelenskiy declared that Ukraine would never accept any peace agreements made behind its back or without Kyiv’s consent. Prior to any Trump-Putin meeting, Ukraine has stated time and again that it wants to work with the US and Europe to develop a common strategy.
Zelenskiy claimed that a draft from Washington lacked the security clauses Kyiv required as parallel talks on a crucial minerals deal continued on Saturday. According to three sources, the US had suggested assuming control of half of Ukraine’s vital minerals.
“Ukraine will have a seat at the table during any peace negotiations with Russia over ending the war,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
