Trump's representative confirms location for discussions with Russia on Ukraine situation
According to the Washington Post, negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict are set to begin in the coming days. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict are set to begin in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, as reported by the Washington Post.
US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has confirmed that discussions will take place in the kingdom shortly. Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, accompanied by US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
“I’m leaving tonight,” the envoy said in an interview with Fox News. “We’re hopeful that we’ll achieve significant progress,” he added, though he did not specify who they would meet or the precise topics on the agenda.
According to an unnamed US official cited by the Washington Post, senior US officials are scheduled to meet with their Russian counterparts in the capital city of Riyadh next week to kick off talks aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.
These upcoming discussions will mark one of the first high-level, in-person meetings between US and Russian officials in years and are intended to pave the way for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump.
The two leaders had a phone conversation on Wednesday, their first direct dialogue since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Additionally, the top diplomats from both countries spoke on Saturday to discuss “preparations for a potential high-level Russian-American summit.” Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, reported that the US delegation is likely focused on securing a date for this meeting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts on February 28.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine was not invited to the Saudi negotiations; however, Economy Minister Yulia Svirydenko announced on Facebook that a Ukrainian government delegation has arrived in the kingdom. “There will be dozens of meetings in the coming days to prepare Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Saudi Arabia,” she noted, adding that the delegation's goal is to strengthen economic ties and establish groundwork “to sign important economic agreements with countries in the region.”
In addressing concerns regarding Ukraine’s exclusion, Witkoff rejected the idea, highlighting that Ukrainian officials had been in discussions with several senior US officials during the Munich Security Conference over the weekend.
PMG reported that “there are no plans for representatives from other major European powers to join the talks,” and Bloomberg indicated that European officials were not even informed of these discussions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a CBS interview on Sunday that when “real negotiations” for peace begin, both Ukraine and the EU will be part of the dialogue.
Key US officials expected to be present in Riyadh include Rubio, Waltz, and Witkoff, according to the Washington Post. US Congressman Michael McCaul confirmed the composition of the US team to PMG, reiterating that “there are no plans for representatives from other major European powers to join the talks.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has confirmed that discussions will take place in the kingdom shortly. Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, accompanied by US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
“I’m leaving tonight,” the envoy said in an interview with Fox News. “We’re hopeful that we’ll achieve significant progress,” he added, though he did not specify who they would meet or the precise topics on the agenda.
According to an unnamed US official cited by the Washington Post, senior US officials are scheduled to meet with their Russian counterparts in the capital city of Riyadh next week to kick off talks aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.
These upcoming discussions will mark one of the first high-level, in-person meetings between US and Russian officials in years and are intended to pave the way for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump.
The two leaders had a phone conversation on Wednesday, their first direct dialogue since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Additionally, the top diplomats from both countries spoke on Saturday to discuss “preparations for a potential high-level Russian-American summit.” Bloomberg, citing anonymous sources, reported that the US delegation is likely focused on securing a date for this meeting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts on February 28.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine was not invited to the Saudi negotiations; however, Economy Minister Yulia Svirydenko announced on Facebook that a Ukrainian government delegation has arrived in the kingdom. “There will be dozens of meetings in the coming days to prepare Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Saudi Arabia,” she noted, adding that the delegation's goal is to strengthen economic ties and establish groundwork “to sign important economic agreements with countries in the region.”
In addressing concerns regarding Ukraine’s exclusion, Witkoff rejected the idea, highlighting that Ukrainian officials had been in discussions with several senior US officials during the Munich Security Conference over the weekend.
PMG reported that “there are no plans for representatives from other major European powers to join the talks,” and Bloomberg indicated that European officials were not even informed of these discussions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a CBS interview on Sunday that when “real negotiations” for peace begin, both Ukraine and the EU will be part of the dialogue.
Key US officials expected to be present in Riyadh include Rubio, Waltz, and Witkoff, according to the Washington Post. US Congressman Michael McCaul confirmed the composition of the US team to PMG, reiterating that “there are no plans for representatives from other major European powers to join the talks.”
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
