MUNICH/WASHINGTON — U.S. and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. They will begin discussions aimed at ending Moscow’s nearly three-year war in Ukraine, according to U.S. lawmakers and sources familiar with the planning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday, confirmed that Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that Kyiv would not engage in discussions with Russia without first consulting with its strategic partners.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are among the key U.S. officials expected to travel to Saudi Arabia, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul confirmed. However, the details of who will represent Russia in the talks remain unclear.
Rubio also held a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday. They agreed to maintain regular contact in preparation for a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the call was initiated by the U.S. side. The conversation touched on several international issues, including the situation in Ukraine, Palestine, and broader regional concerns in the Middle East.
During the Munich Security Conference, McCaul indicated that the goal of the Saudi Arabia talks was to facilitate a summit involving Zelenskyy, Trump, and Putin. The aim is to bring an end to the ongoing conflict. Sources familiar with the plans confirmed that talks between U.S. and Russian officials are indeed scheduled in Saudi Arabia. However, the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Zelenskyy reiterated on Saturday that Ukraine would not accept any peace agreements made without its direct involvement. Kyiv has insisted that any negotiations on the war’s resolution must first involve coordination with the U.S. and Europe. This is to establish a joint strategy before any potential Trump-Putin meeting.
Meanwhile, concerns have arisen in Europe regarding the potential exclusion of European leaders from the peace talks. Trump has previously vowed to quickly end the Ukraine war, raising fears among European allies that they could be sidelined in the process. On Saturday, Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg confirmed that Europe would not have a seat at the table in the proposed talks. He stated that the U.S. would act as the intermediary between Ukraine and Russia.
European officials have expressed dissatisfaction with this exclusion. They emphasized that they would not accept being left out of discussions affecting European security interests. While Zelenskyy has plans to visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, he has stated that he does not intend to meet with U.S. or Russian officials during these trips.
As the conflict persists, Moscow controls about a fifth of Ukraine. Russian forces are steadily advancing in the eastern regions. Ukraine continues to defend its territory despite facing challenges such as manpower shortages and limited resources. Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede territory and adopt permanent neutrality as part of any peace agreement. On the other hand, Ukraine insists on Russia’s withdrawal and seeks NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees.
In addition to military support, the U.S. and Europe have been discussing investment opportunities in Ukraine’s vast natural resources. Sources indicated that the U.S. proposed a deal where it would take ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals. However, Zelenskyy rejected the proposal, citing a lack of necessary security provisions in the draft agreement.
Meanwhile, France has been in discussions with its European allies about convening an informal summit to address the situation in Ukraine. Plans for the meeting may possibly go ahead on Monday. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski mentioned that French President Emmanuel Macron had called for a summit of European leaders in Paris to discuss Ukraine and broader regional security issues.
The situation remains fluid, with tensions surrounding Ukraine’s role in the peace process and the evolving dynamics between the U.S., Russia, and Europe continuing to shape the diplomatic landscape.
