Senior officials from the United States administration are set to initiate peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia. The discussions aim to arrange a crucial meeting between former President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This meeting seeks to foster peace and end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The war began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, resulting in Russian forces occupying approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. In pursuit of peace, Russia has stipulated that Ukraine must cede certain territories and adopt a stance of permanent neutrality. Conversely, Ukraine has firmly demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces from captured regions and seeks NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees.
Ukrainian officials have consistently emphasized the necessity of collaborating with the United States and European partners to devise a unified strategy before any potential Trump-Putin summit. European officials support this stance, asserting that any agreement would be unfeasible without their involvement in negotiations.
"Maybe there is something (on) the table, but not on our table. I didn't see any invitations… (for) Ukraine to meet with some other envoys." – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The US delegation, composed of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, will travel to Saudi Arabia to facilitate these discussions. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy plans visits to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, although specific dates remain undisclosed.
In response to concerns over Ukraine's participation in peace talks, Trump has assured that Ukraine will have a seat at the negotiation table. However, Zelenskyy has reiterated that Ukraine will not accept any peace deals reached without Kyiv's direct involvement.
"if before we (haven't) had any negotiation between us and our strategic partners. As I remember, Russia is not our strategic partner." – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In addition to diplomatic efforts, the US has proposed a deal involving the ownership of 50% of Ukraine's critical minerals. Negotiations continue as Zelenskyy expressed that a draft proposal from Washington lacks essential security provisions for Ukraine.
Regular communication channels have been established between the US and Russia to prepare for a potential meeting between Trump and Putin. A recent phone call between Rubio and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, focused on discussing the Ukrainian conflict and the prospects for resolution.
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