U.S. and Russian officials are scheduled to convene in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to initiate discussions aimed at seeking a resolution to Russia’s nearly three-year military engagement in Ukraine, as confirmed by a U.S. lawmaker and a planning source on Saturday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who engaged in discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday, indicated that Ukraine has not been invited to the Saudi talks and that Kyiv would prefer to consult with its strategic partners prior to any direct interactions with Russia.
Key U.S. figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, are anticipated to travel to Saudi Arabia, as noted by U.S. Representative Michael McCaul in remarks to Reuters. The specific Russian representatives participating in the talks have yet to be disclosed.
During the Munich Security Conference, McCaul expressed that the purpose of these discussions is to facilitate a meeting among U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and President Zelenskiy, with the ultimate goal of establishing peace and resolving the ongoing conflict.
