US-Russia Talks on Ukraine Set for Saudi Arabia, Without European or Ukrainian Involvement

Munich/Washington — (February 16, 2025); U.S. and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to initiate negotiations aimed at ending the nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine, according to a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who recently met U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Germany, confirmed that Ukraine was not invited to the talks and emphasized that Kyiv would not engage with Russia without first consulting its strategic partners.

The U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, will travel to Saudi Arabia, though it remains unclear which Russian officials they will meet. U.S. Representative Michael McCaul stated that the discussions aim to arrange a future summit between U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Zelenskiy.

The planned negotiations have caused concern among European allies, who fear being sidelined in the peace process. Those fears were reinforced on Saturday when Trump’s Ukraine envoy confirmed that Europe would not have a seat at the table. Meanwhile, the U.S. has circulated a questionnaire to European capitals, inquiring about their potential contributions to Ukraine’s security.

In parallel to the diplomatic efforts, a proposed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal remains under negotiation. Three sources indicated that Washington has proposed acquiring 50% ownership of Ukraine’s critical minerals, a key resource for global industries. However, Zelenskiy stated that the current draft agreement lacks the necessary security provisions Kyiv requires.

As military and diplomatic maneuvering continues, Ukraine insists that any peace deal must include Russia’s withdrawal from occupied territories, while Moscow maintains its demand for Kyiv to cede land and adopt permanent neutrality.

Source: Reuters