Putin Dispatches Officials to Saudi Arabia for Ukraine Peace Talks
Kremlin Announcement
On Monday, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a delegation of senior officials to Saudi Arabia for negotiations with the United States on a potential peace deal for Ukraine. The delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov.
Meeting with U.S. Counterparts
The Russian officials are scheduled to meet with their U.S. counterparts on Tuesday to discuss a range of issues, including the restoration of diplomatic ties between Washington and Moscow, a Ukrainian peace deal, and a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and Putin.
U.S. Delegation
Leading the U.S. delegation is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and national security advisor Mike Waltz. The State Department confirmed these appointments on Monday.
Phone Conversation between Trump and Putin
The meeting follows a phone conversation between Trump and Putin last week, in which the two leaders reportedly agreed to initiate negotiations between their respective teams immediately.
Skepticism from Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed skepticism about the negotiations, urging Trump not to trust Putin. Zelenskyy believes that Putin is not sincere in his desire for peace and that he remains a threat to Ukraine.
Trump’s Representatives’ Views
Trump’s representatives have declined to provide details about the negotiations, including whether the U.S. would support a deal that requires Ukraine to surrender a significant portion of its pre-war territory.
British Support for Ukraine’s Security
United Kingdom Prime Minister Kier Starmer has indicated that Britain is willing to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a peace deal to ensure its security. Starmer emphasized the importance of ensuring Ukraine’s safety and the implications for the security of Europe and the United Kingdom.
Zelenskyy’s Refusal of Negotiated Deal
Zelenskyy has stated that he will not accept any negotiation between the U.S. and Russia without Ukraine’s involvement. He believes that any deal must be negotiated directly with Ukraine and that it must be based on Ukraine’s interests and concerns.
Conclusion
The upcoming meeting in Saudi Arabia is a significant step towards the potential resolution of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, skepticism remains, and the details of any agreement that may be reached are yet to be determined. The international community will be closely monitoring the progress of the negotiations and its implications for the future of the region.
