The United States plans a technical meeting with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia before negotiations with Russia. If progress is made, further discussions may occur. Key US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will not attend. The meeting is characterized as technical, focusing on indirect negotiations to address the conditions for ending the conflict.
A technical team from the United States is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia before engaging in negotiations with the Russian delegation. This meeting is set to occur on Sunday, with further discussions with the Russians planned for Monday. Should progress arise during the discussions, an additional meeting between the US and Ukrainian teams may be arranged later that day.
According to CBS News White House correspondent Jennifer Jacobs, key officials such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz will not participate in these negotiations. Jacobs emphasized, “If progress is made with the Russian team in Riyadh, the US technical team may meet with the Ukrainian team again later on Monday as the Trump administration continues its shuttle diplomacy.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that the meeting between the US and Ukrainian teams will occur on Monday, marking the significance of Saudi Arabia as the chosen venue. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tykhyi, characterized this engagement as a technical round rather than a political one, indicating that there will be no direct contacts with the Russians.
US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg has mentioned that the focus of the Trump administration’s team will be to facilitate indirect negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to grasp the conditions that both parties require to conclude the ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy also remarked that the Ukrainian delegation in Saudi Arabia will comprise high-level professionals, including Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.
The upcoming US-Ukrainian meeting in Saudi Arabia marks a pivotal step before negotiations with Russia begin. This technical meeting emphasizes the United States’ role in facilitating indirect communication aimed at resolving the conflict. The participation of Ukrainian officials, as asserted by President Zelenskyy, aims to ensure that all discussions are handled by qualified individuals, reflecting a strategic approach to diplomacy in this ongoing crisis.
Original Source: unn.ua
