Negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine war will exclude Ukrainian and European representatives.
Officials from the United States and Russia are scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss potential resolutions for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This development comes amidst reports that the Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, will not be part of these negotiations.
According to sources, key US officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, are expected to attend the meetings, which are set to take place next week.
Russian officials who will participate in these discussions have not been publicly named.
The planned meetings will be pivotal in addressing not only the war in Ukraine but also broader geopolitical concerns, as indicated by communication between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ahead of the encounter.
Zelensky has expressed his discontent with the exclusion of Ukraine from the talks, highlighting the complexities surrounding the conflict and its impact on the nation.
Additionally, European powers have reportedly been sidelined from these discussions, raising questions about the inclusivity of the negotiation process.
Keith Kellogg, former special envoy for Ukraine under the Trump administration, criticized European leaders at the Munich Security Conference, urging them to engage more actively in discussions rather than lamenting their exclusion.
On an international front, Vice President JD Vance recently held a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky during his trip to Europe, which was described as productive, reaffirming the previous administration's commitment to achieving a sustainable peace in the region.
Earlier this week, Presidents
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had a phone conversation that resulted in mutual commitments to visit each other's countries, marking a significant diplomatic engagement.
The last sitting US president to visit Russia was Barack Obama in 2013. Historically, Obama had two visits, while his predecessor George W. Bush visited Russia seven times, reflecting varying levels of diplomatic engagement across administrations.
As the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve, the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia signal a critical juncture in international discussions surrounding the Ukraine conflict.