US, Russia to Discuss Ukraine War in Saudi Arabia

While both parties have tempered expectations, they view the meeting as an initial step toward broader negotiations, potentially paving the way for direct talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The U.S. delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Wikoff. Representing Russia are Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and senior Putin aide Yuri Ushakov.

Ukrainian officials have expressed disappointment at not being invited to participate, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instead planning a separate meeting with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine’s concerns.

The talks between the U.S. and Russia have sparked apprehension among European leaders, who are voicing concern over the absence of Ukrainian representation in these early-stage discussions. Many European leaders argue that Ukraine should have a central role in shaping its future, while also emphasizing the importance of European involvement, given the stakes for regional security.

In response to the developments, French President Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting of European leaders in Paris on Monday. The discussions centered on increasing defense spending and providing stronger security guarantees for Ukraine.

A key point of contention emerged over the proposal to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a resolution. Countries like Britain and Sweden expressed support for such a deployment, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz cautioned that it is still too early to entertain such discussions.

Macron emphasized the importance of securing a lasting peace for Ukraine. “To achieve this, Russia must end its aggression, and we must ensure robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine,” he wrote on X.

Following the Paris meeting, Macron spoke with both Trump and Zelenskyy, underscoring the necessity for collaboration between Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians to reach a sustainable resolution. Zelenskyy, for his part, underscored the urgency of “strong and reliable” security assurances, warning that without them, Russia could resume its aggression against Ukraine or other European nations.

As the diplomatic landscape continues to evolve, all eyes will remain on the upcoming talks and their potential to reshape the course of the war and the future of European security.