U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Ukraine war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is among the U.S. delegates, expected to engage with Russian representatives, including possibly Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Concerns arise over the exclusion of Ukraine from the negotiations, which could sideline its interests amidst ongoing conflict discussions.
Russian and U.S. officials are scheduled to convene in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss potential resolutions to the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to the Kommersant newspaper. While the specific Russian delegates are undisclosed, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been mentioned in earlier reports as a possible attendee. During the weekend, Lavrov had a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio before Rubio’s arrival in Saudi Arabia after visiting Israel.
Rubio is anticipated to be accompanied by key U.S. officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who confirmed his travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Additionally, meeting preparations are underway for a future engagement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, as cited by Axios. Putin’s negotiating team reportedly consists of several senior officials, as Bloomberg has previously reported.
Among these is Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, who is expected to address economic collaborations at the talks. The invitation from Riyadh to host both U.S. and Russian leaders follows Trump’s suggestion after a recent phone conversation with Putin. However, the decision to hold direct talks without Ukrainian representation has sparked concerns regarding the neglect of Ukraine’s interests in this context.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remained in Saudi Arabia but expressed no intention to engage with U.S. or Russian officials. Rubio emphasized the necessity of Ukraine’s involvement in any legitimate negotiation processes, responding to previous criticisms regarding the discussions excluding the invaded nation. He elaborated that the current situation only reflects an interest from both sides in ending the conflict, without an established negotiation framework.
In summary, U.S. and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the war in Ukraine, focusing on potential resolutions while navigating the complexities of excluding Ukrainian interests. Despite the ongoing dialogues between key leaders, the absence of an established negotiation process raises concerns about the implications for Ukraine. Continuing developments will be pivotal in determining the effectiveness of these discussions.
Original Source: www.themoscowtimes.com
