USA and Russia gather in Saudi Arabia to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine, while Kiev is excluded from peace negotiations
In the coming days, US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia to start conversations to end Russia’s nearly three -year war against Ukraine, a US legislator and a source familiar with planning on 15 February.
According to Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met US Vice President Jd Vance, in Germany on February 14, said Ukraine was not invited to conversations in Saudi Arabia and that Kiev will not negotiate with Russia before consulting its strategic partners.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Counselor Mike Waltz, and the president’s envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, US representative Michael McCaul told Reuters. It was not immediately clear who they would find from Russia.
On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, McCaul said the goal of conversations was to organize a meeting between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Zelensky “to finally bring peace and end this conflict.”
A source with knowledge of the plans confirmed the conversations planned in Saudi Arabia between US and Russian authorities. The US State Department did not immediately respond to a commentary request.
Trump, who took office on January 20, promised repeatedly to quickly end the war in Ukraine. He made separate telephone calls to Putin and Zelensky on February 12, leaving Washington European allies alarmed with the possibility of being excluded from any peace process.
These fears were widely confirmed on February 15, when Trump’s envoy to Ukraine said Europe will not have a table seat after Washington sends a questionnaire to the European capitals asking what they could contribute to security guarantees to Kiev.
Mineral agreement
Earlier, on February 15, Rubio spoke to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. They agreed to maintain regular contacts to prepare a meeting between Putin and Trump, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Zelensky said on February 14 he will visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but did not specify when. However, the Ukrainian leader said he had no plans to meet with US or Russian officials during these trips.
On February 15, he stated that Ukraine will never accept peace agreements reached on his back or without Kiev’s participation. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that they want to meet with the US and Europe to elaborate a joint strategy before any meeting between Trump and Putin.
Moscow controls one fifth from Ukraine and slowly advanced in the east for months, while the minor army of Kiev fights with staff and tries to maintain part of the territory in western Russia.
Russia demanded that Kiev give in territory and becomes permanently neutral in any peace agreement. Ukraine, on the other hand, requires Russia to withdraw from the captured areas and wants to adhere to NATO or get equivalent safety guarantees to avoid Moscow attacks.
The US and Europe have provided dozens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Trump said he supports Ukraine, but seeks security for US financing for Kiev.
The US and Ukraine are currently negotiating an agreement that can open Ukraine’s vast natural riches for US investment. Three sources said the US proposed to take over 50% of the property of Ukraine’s critical minerals. Zelensky said on February 15 that the agreement of the agreement did not contain the security provisions that Kiev needs.
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/02/17/conversa-de-paz-exclui-ucrania/
