Official representatives of the US and Russia will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to begin negotiations aimed at ending Moscow's almost three-year war in Ukraine, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA, citing a statement by US congressman from the Republican Party in the House of Representatives Michael McCaul on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference yesterday.
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with US Vice President J.D. Vance in Munich on Friday, said that Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia and that Kiev would not engage in any talks with Moscow before consulting its strategic partners, the world agency noted.
The state US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who arrived in Israel last night, National Security Advisor Mike Walz and White House Middle East envoy Stephen Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, McCaul said.
It is not clear who will represent Russia, whose Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with Rubio, Reuters reported.
According to McCaul, the goal of the planned talks in Saudi Arabia is to organize a meeting between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "finally negotiate peace and end this conflict," Reuters reported.
Trump, who took office on January 20, has repeatedly announced that he wants to help end the war in Ukraine, which began three years ago on February 24.
US envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg said in Munich, that Europe will have no place at the negotiating table. On this occasion, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, quoted by the BBC, that the United Kingdom will work for the unity of the United States and Europe, which should not divert their attention from "external enemies".
Zelensky said on Friday that he would visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, but did not say when. The Ukrainian leader announced that he did not intend to meet with US or Russian officials during these visits, Reuters noted.
In addition, the Ukrainian president announced yesterday that he had refused to sign an agreement with the United States on Ukrainian rare earth elements, stating that this "does not protect" his country at this stage, reported Agence France-Presse.
Meanwhile, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France is discussing with its allies the holding of an informal meeting of EU leaders on Ukraine, which will probably take place on Monday.