Introduction
US and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. The goal is to start talks aimed at ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine. This news comes from a US lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning.
Key Players
-
US Officials: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia.
-
Russian Officials: It is not yet clear who from Russia will attend the talks.
-
Ukrainian President: Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia. Kyiv will not engage with Russia before consulting with strategic partners.
Purpose of the Talks
The aim of these talks is to arrange a meeting between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy. The goal is to bring peace and end the conflict.
Background
-
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: He was already planning to visit Saudi Arabia as part of his first tour of the Middle East.
-
Phone Call: Rubio had a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. He reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to finding an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
-
Prisoner Exchange: Witkoff was involved in a prisoner exchange deal that led to the call between Trump and Putin. He even traveled to Moscow to bring home US detainee Marc Fogel.
Trump’s Involvement
-
Task Force: Trump tasked Rubio, Waltz, Witkoff, and CIA chief John Ratcliffe to work on a deal with Russia to end the Ukraine war.
-
Phone Calls: Trump made separate phone calls to Putin and Zelenskiy, alarming Washington’s European allies who feared being left out of the peace process.
-
European Allies: Trump’s Ukraine envoy said Europe won’t have a seat at the table. Washington sent a questionnaire to European capitals to ask what they could contribute to security guarantees for Kyiv.
Minerals Deal
-
Ukrainian President’s Visit: Zelenskiy plans to visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye. He said he has no plans to meet with US or Russian officials during these visits.
-
Territory Control: Moscow controls a fifth of Ukraine and is slowly advancing in the east. Kyiv’s smaller army is struggling with manpower shortages and trying to hold territory in western Russia.
-
Peace Demands: Russia demands that Kyiv cede territory and become permanently neutral. Ukraine demands that Russia withdraw from captured land and wants NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees.
-
US and Europe’s Aid: The US and Europe have given Ukraine tens of billions of dollars in military aid since the war started. Trump supports Ukraine but wants security for US funding for Kyiv.
-
Natural Wealth: The US and Ukraine are negotiating a deal that could open up Ukraine’s natural wealth to US investment. The US proposed taking ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals. Zelenskiy said the draft deal did not contain the security provisions Kyiv needed.
Conclusion
The upcoming talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia are a significant step towards finding a resolution to the Ukraine war. While the details of the talks remain unclear, the involvement of high-level officials from both sides indicates a serious effort to bring peace. However, the exclusion of Ukraine from the initial talks and the concerns of European allies highlight the complex nature of the peace process. The outcome of these talks will be closely watched by the international community, as they could pave the way for a broader peace agreement involving all key stakeholders.