Top Trump administration officials to head to Saudi Arabia for Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and the Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkev are heading to Saudi Arabia to start negotiations towards peace between Russia and Ukraine.
The timing of travel has not been determined, and it is not clear whether the trio has already left.
This step comes a few days after President Donald Trump said to speak by phone With Russian President Vladimir Putin about the possibility of negotiations to end the war.
“We have agreed to work together, closely, including visiting each other,” Trump wrote in a social publication on Wednesday after the invitation. “We also agreed to start our difference in negotiations immediately.”
The senior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Rubio and the United States Special Envoy, to Ukraine Keith Kelog, was heading in Germany at the end of this week to the Munich Security Conference, a forum for international security policy in which the war of Russia remains an important discussion.
On Saturday, Kelog defended the possibility of engaging with Putin in an attempt to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine, saying in Munich, “Whether you like it or not, you should speak to the opponents.”
He added: “As the Great Defense Minister, General Mattis said once: I may not like this son from B —-, but I spoke to him.”
Kelogg also He said at the conference On Saturday that Western leaders need more effort to impose sanctions against Russia, adding that negotiations on ending the war can focus on Russia’s willingness to give up land and target Putin’s oil revenues.
However, some members of the administration seemed hesitant in recent days in determining any specific concessions from Russia before possible negotiations.
When he was asked on Thursday what Russia should give up in order to reach an agreement with Ukraine, Trump refused to name the details.
“With regard to negotiation, it is too early to determine what will happen. Maybe Russia will give up a lot, maybe you will not do it, and all of this depends on what will happen.” Trump said During a press conference alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Defense Minister Beit Higseth, who has SIGNAD USA will be OppoSMr. Dr To Ukraine to join NATO as part of the negotiating peace, he indicated that the United States is likely to support the negotiations in which Ukraine leaks from its territory. It was already seized by the Kremlin.
“We want, like you, Ukraine, with sovereign and prosperous. Higseth said in a speech during a trip to the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday:” We must start by realizing that returning to Ukraine borders before 2014 is an unrealistic goal. “
