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High-ranking officials from the Trump administration are scheduled to meet with Russian senior officials to initiate discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as reported by various sources.

Key figures such as National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff will reportedly travel to Saudi Arabia for these meetings, as indicated by two informed sources. One source mentioned that these discussions are expected to take place in the coming days.

While the sources refrained from disclosing which Russian officials would be present, CNN has previously detailed that the Kremlin is forming a senior negotiating team to facilitate direct communication with the US, involving influential political, intelligence, and economic leaders, including Kirill Dmitriev, who played a crucial role in a recent US prisoner exchange negotiation.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump indicated that discussions to conclude the Ukraine conflict, which has persisted for nearly three years, would commence “immediately” following a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This conversation marked the first between the two leaders since Trump took office last month, with Trump expressing a strong desire among his advisors to expedite an end to the Ukraine crisis.

Mike McCaul, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, also confirmed these plans during an interview with Politico at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, stating, “Rubio, Waltz, and Witkoff are being sent to Saudi Arabia to discuss matters with the Ukrainians and the Russians concerning Ukraine.”

The State Department had previously announced Rubio’s trip to Saudi Arabia as part of a broader itinerary that includes participation in events in Munich and across the Middle East. Rubio, who arrived in Israel on Saturday, also had a conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier in the day, according to a State Department statement.

“The Secretary reaffirmed President Trump’s commitment to finding a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine,” stated State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “Additionally, they explored the potential for collaboration on various other bilateral issues.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry described the conversation between Lavrov and Rubio as reflecting “a mutual commitment to collaborate on pressing international matters, including resolving the situation in Ukraine,” as well as issues related to the Middle East crisis. The two officials agreed to maintain ongoing communication, including preparations for an upcoming high-level meeting between Russian and American representatives, according to the ministry’s statement.

The remarks from Rubio came as the Trump administration’s envoy for Russia-Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated over the weekend that European representatives would not be included in negotiations aimed at resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

“The answer is no,” Kellogg stated during an event connected to the Munich Security Conference.

“The Ukrainians will certainly be present,” Kellogg remarked. “It would be unwise to suggest otherwise.”

Concerning the involvement of European representatives, Kellogg mentioned that he adheres to a “realism-based perspective” and suggested that reflecting on the earlier Minsk II agreement, “there were many individuals at that table without the capacity to implement a peace process, leading to a complete failure.”

The Minsk II agreement was brokered in Belarus’ capital in 2015 in an attempt to cease a violent ten-month conflict in eastern Ukraine. This diplomatic initiative brought together leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France, with the goal of restoring peace to territories under the control of pro-Russian separatists since 2014. However, despite its lofty ambitions, the agreement encountered significant hurdles in its implementation and ultimately failed to establish lasting stability in the region.

Kellogg characterized the ongoing peace negotiation efforts as adhering to a “dual track” approach.

“There is a Russian track in progress, while concurrently, we also have a Ukrainian track underway,” he stated. “If you look at the news, you can see that the Trump envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is engaged because he is handling the Russian angle, while I am focused on the American-Ukrainian alliance as well. We are working swiftly to ensure progress.”

Trump signaled earlier this week that he might meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia soon, but emphasized that a formal decision has yet to be reached.

“We anticipate likely having our initial meeting in Saudi Arabia,” Trump noted regarding a potential meeting with Putin, just hours after their telephone conversation on Wednesday.

The president remarked that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would be involved in these discussions. Witkoff also acknowledged that the Saudi crown prince was “crucial” in the recent release of wrongfully detained American Marc Fogel earlier in the week.

This article has been updated with further information.

This report included contributions from CNN’s Alex Marquardt, Sebastian Shukla, and Mariya Knight.