Senior Trump officials to hold Ukraine, Russia peace talks in KSA
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The United States is set to meet with Russian and Ukrainian envoys in Saudi Arabia to hold talks on putting an end to the Ukraine war.
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Members of the White House traveling press pool board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 (AP)
Senior officials from former US President Donald Trump’s administration are set to begin peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, Politico reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the plan.
According to the report, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia for the discussions. However, Keith Kellogg, the special envoy for Ukraine-Russia talks, will not be in attendance.
The talks come as Moscow announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call on Saturday, during which they expressed a "mutual willingness for cooperation on topical international issues."
Russia’s foreign ministry said the conversation touched on the Ukraine conflict, the situation in Palestine, and broader Middle East affairs, as well as other regional issues.
While details of the Saudi-hosted negotiations remain unclear, the discussions are expected to focus on de-escalation efforts and potential pathways to a settlement in Ukraine.
MBS Trump's 'main broker'
As US President Donald Trump pursues an end to the Ukraine war and strategic shifts in the Middle East, one name stands at the center of these moves: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Bloomberg reported.
According to the report, bin Salman is among the few global figures who maintain close ties with both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. While many Arab leaders find engagement with Washington increasingly complex, the Saudi crown prince remains a pivotal figure connecting global powers.
This unique position places Saudi Arabia as a likely host for a potential Trump-Putin summit on the Ukraine crisis, Bloomberg noted. Sources close to bin Salman suggest he views Trump's unconventional approach as "an opportunity to resolve conflicts in the Middle East and beyond."
During a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, Trump stated, “Tomorrow, there’s a meeting in Munich, and next week, a meeting in Saudi Arabia—not with me or President Putin, but with senior officials, and Ukraine will also participate.”
