Top U.S. officials will meet with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the Ukraine war. U.S. authorities confirmed this on Saturday.
Steve Witkoff, Mike Waltz, and Marco Rubio will represent the U.S. delegation. Witkoff is Trump’s Middle East negotiator, Waltz serves as the White House National Security Advisor, and Rubio is the Secretary of State. Therefore, they will play a crucial role in these discussions.
Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since taking office. As a result, he announced an agreement to begin ceasefire negotiations.
Limited Details on Meeting Schedule
Although officials confirmed the talks, they did not reveal the exact meeting dates or travel plans. However, Rubio was already scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia as part of his Middle East tour. In fact, he started his trip on Saturday with a visit to Israel, according to an AFP journalist.
Earlier that day, Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. According to the State Department, Rubio “reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to finding an end to the conflict in Ukraine.”
Witkoff’s Role in Prisoner Exchange
Notably, Steve Witkoff played a key role in a recent prisoner exchange that paved the way for Trump’s call with Putin. In addition, he traveled to Moscow to bring back U.S. detainee Marc Fogel.
Earlier this week, Trump assigned Rubio, Waltz, Witkoff, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe to begin working on a deal with Russia. Consequently, their efforts could shape the course of future negotiations.
Concerns from Ukraine and Its Allies
Meanwhile, Ukraine and its European allies were shocked by Trump’s sudden move. They worry about being excluded from talks regarding Ukraine’s future. Since this war marks the largest land invasion in Europe since World War II, their concerns are understandable.
As negotiations progress, many question how these talks will impact Ukraine’s sovereignty and long-term security.
