Meeting between US and Ukraine to Occur in Saudi Arabia, Says Trump's Envoy
US and Ukrainian officials are set to convene in Saudi Arabia to explore the possibility of a ceasefire with Russia, as indicated by Trump's envoy. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Negotiators from the United States and Ukraine are set to convene in Saudi Arabia to discuss a "peace framework" intended to conclude the ongoing conflict with Russia, as noted by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in a Thursday briefing with the press.
This announcement follows a recent public dispute between Trump and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, with Trump alleging that Zelensky is unwilling to pursue peace with Russia.
“We are now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or potentially in Jeddah,” Witkoff said. “The idea is to get a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well.”
Zelensky mentioned in a post on X that he plans to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday and that “my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners.”
According to Axios, the negotiations might occur on Wednesday, involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, alongside Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak.
In a tense Oval Office encounter last week, Trump criticized Zelensky, claiming he was “gambling with World War Three” and asserted that Zelensky did not “have the cards” to effectively lead discussions. He characterized Zelensky’s demeanor as “disrespectful” and subsequently halted military assistance and intelligence cooperation.
Following this confrontation, Zelensky described the exchange as “regrettable” and suggested negotiating a limited truce and a prisoner exchange with Russia. “Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree [on] a strong final deal,” he communicated on X on Tuesday.
Trump has shifted from the previous administration’s approach of “isolating” Russia to initiating direct conversations with Moscow. On February 18, Russian and American negotiators held their first meeting in three years in Riyadh. Zelensky had previously canceled his own planned visit to the Gulf kingdom that month to avoid “coincidences” with discussions he had not authorized.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated to journalists on Thursday that Moscow is “analyzing” the developments concerning the impending US-Ukrainian meeting. Russia has previously viewed the revival of bilateral contacts with the US favorably as a step toward normalizing relations.
Moscow has attributed the breakdown of peace talks in 2022 to Kiev, claiming that Ukraine has made unrealistic demands. Russia insists that Ukraine must abandon its ambitions of NATO membership, adopt a neutral status, and recognize Crimea along with four other regions previously part of Ukraine as Russian territory.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
This announcement follows a recent public dispute between Trump and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, with Trump alleging that Zelensky is unwilling to pursue peace with Russia.
“We are now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or potentially in Jeddah,” Witkoff said. “The idea is to get a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well.”
Zelensky mentioned in a post on X that he plans to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday and that “my team will stay in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners.”
According to Axios, the negotiations might occur on Wednesday, involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, alongside Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak.
In a tense Oval Office encounter last week, Trump criticized Zelensky, claiming he was “gambling with World War Three” and asserted that Zelensky did not “have the cards” to effectively lead discussions. He characterized Zelensky’s demeanor as “disrespectful” and subsequently halted military assistance and intelligence cooperation.
Following this confrontation, Zelensky described the exchange as “regrettable” and suggested negotiating a limited truce and a prisoner exchange with Russia. “Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree [on] a strong final deal,” he communicated on X on Tuesday.
Trump has shifted from the previous administration’s approach of “isolating” Russia to initiating direct conversations with Moscow. On February 18, Russian and American negotiators held their first meeting in three years in Riyadh. Zelensky had previously canceled his own planned visit to the Gulf kingdom that month to avoid “coincidences” with discussions he had not authorized.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated to journalists on Thursday that Moscow is “analyzing” the developments concerning the impending US-Ukrainian meeting. Russia has previously viewed the revival of bilateral contacts with the US favorably as a step toward normalizing relations.
Moscow has attributed the breakdown of peace talks in 2022 to Kiev, claiming that Ukraine has made unrealistic demands. Russia insists that Ukraine must abandon its ambitions of NATO membership, adopt a neutral status, and recognize Crimea along with four other regions previously part of Ukraine as Russian territory.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
