Abdelrahman
As American officials gear up for discussions with Russia regarding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, European leaders are swiftly formulating a strategy in response to former President Trump’s proposal for a settlement that seems to sideline both them and Kyiv from the negotiations.
The Russian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the location of this week’s talks, held a meeting with the nation’s foreign minister on Sunday. Joining Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia will be two high-ranking Trump administration officials: National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, who shared these details during an interview with Fox News.
These last-minute arrangements come after a series of diplomatic exchanges in recent days, which included a conversation between Rubio and Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey V. Lavrov.
In an interview with CBS News from Jerusalem on Sunday, Rubio expressed openness to exploring a “broader conversation” that could encompass Ukraine and the war’s conclusion, emphasizing the involvement of global allies, particularly in Europe, if such an opportunity arises.
Though preliminary, these discussions with Russia indicate Trump’s intention to expedite negotiations and manage them independently, at least for the moment.
Andriy Yermak, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, confirmed on Sunday via the Telegram messaging platform that Ukraine would not partake in the upcoming talks. He noted that Ukraine prefers to establish a unified negotiation strategy with the Trump administration prior to engaging with the Russian delegation.
