U.S. and Ukrainian officials began talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted the importance of understanding potential concessions from Ukraine. Accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, the U.S. delegation is engaged with Ukrainian representatives led by Andriy Yermak. Zelenskyy, who recently met with Saudi leadership, is not participating in the discussions.
Ukrainian and U.S. officials commenced discussions in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to explore avenues to conclude the ongoing conflict with Russia. According to a report by Reuters, these meetings are pivotal in determining Ukraine’s willingness to contemplate concessions essential for peace negotiations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the necessity of understanding Ukraine’s stance. He noted that a successful ceasefire requires both parties to be open to making concessions. “We have to understand the Ukrainian position and just have a general idea of what concessions they’d be willing to make,” Rubio remarked.
Rubio is accompanied by U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, while the Ukrainian delegation is led by Andriy Yermak, a key advisor to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Notably, Zelenskyy, who met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia on Monday, is absent from the ongoing discussions.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed the commencement of the delegations’ meeting by sharing a video on Telegram, showcasing senior Ukrainian officials entering the meeting room at 0900 GMT. In anticipation of the talks, Steve Witkoff, former Special Envoy for the Middle East under President Trump, expressed optimism regarding a forthcoming agreement on U.S.-Ukraine minerals.
The ongoing discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia are crucial for addressing the conflict with Russia. Key U.S. leaders are actively engaging with Ukraine’s delegation, highlighting the significance of mutual concessions for establishing a ceasefire. The involvement of senior officials underscores the importance and depth of these negotiations, while developments regarding U.S.-Ukraine mineral agreements suggest potential economic collaborations.
Original Source: armenpress.am
