High-level US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss ending Moscow’s nearly three-year war in Ukraine, according to US lawmaker Michael McCaul and a source familiar with the planning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that Kyiv was not invited to the talks and reiterated that Ukraine would not engage in negotiations with Russia without consulting its strategic partners first.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff are set to travel to Saudi Arabia for the discussions, McCaul told Reuters. However, it remains unclear which Russian officials will attend.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, McCaul said the ultimate goal is to arrange a high-level summit between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Zelenskiy to broker a peace deal.
Trump’s Peace Push Sparks European Concerns
Since taking office on January 20, Trump has vowed to end the war swiftly. On Wednesday, he held separate phone calls with Putin and Zelenskiy, raising concerns among European allies that they might be excluded from the peace process.
Those fears were further fueled on Saturday when Trump’s Ukraine envoy confirmed that Europe will not have a seat at the negotiating table. Washington has instead sent a questionnaire to European capitals, asking what they could contribute to Kyiv’s security guarantees.
Russia and Ukraine Stand Firm on Their Terms
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has left Moscow in control of roughly one-fifth of Ukraine. Russia has been slowly advancing in the east, while Ukraine faces manpower shortages and struggles to maintain its defenses in occupied western Russia.
Moscow demands that Ukraine cede territory and adopt permanent neutrality as part of any peace deal. Meanwhile, Kyiv insists on a full Russian withdrawal and NATO membership or equivalent security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
US-Ukraine Minerals Deal in the Works
Amid the diplomatic maneuvering, the US and Ukraine are negotiating a potential agreement that would open Ukraine’s vast mineral resources to US investment. Sources indicate that the US has proposed acquiring a 50% stake in Ukraine’s critical minerals sector.
However, Zelenskiy has expressed concerns, stating that the draft deal lacks essential security provisions for Ukraine.
The coming days in Saudi Arabia will be pivotal in shaping the next phase of the conflict—though without Ukraine at the table, the legitimacy of any potential agreement remains uncertain.
