U.S. Delegation Heads to Saudi Arabia for Direct Talks with Russia on Ukraine War
RIYADH, February 14, 2025 (SAUDI ARABIA BREAKING NEWS) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia for direct negotiations with Russian officials in an effort to seek an end to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a U.S. official confirmed on Sunday.
The delegation includes National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. The talks, set to take place in Riyadh, follow a recent phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they agreed to initiate immediate negotiations.
Uncertain Ukrainian Participation
It remains unclear whether Ukrainian officials will participate in the negotiations. While a Ukrainian delegation is already in Saudi Arabia to explore economic agreements, there is no confirmation of direct Ukrainian involvement in the U.S.-Russia discussions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that no negotiations about Ukraine should take place without Ukraine at the table.
Trump, however, told reporters that Zelenskyy "will be involved", though he did not elaborate on the extent of his participation. Meanwhile, some Ukrainian officials have denied involvement, with advisers to Zelenskyy insisting that no direct meetings with Russian representatives are planned until Kyiv has a clear strategy to achieve a "just peace."
A Major Shift in U.S. Policy
The decision to engage directly with Moscow marks a major shift in U.S. foreign policy, effectively ending the diplomatic isolation that Russia has faced since the February 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. Russian officials and state media have responded triumphantly to Trump's decision, seeing it as a potential breakthrough moment for Moscow on the global stage.
Witkoff, speaking to Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures”, said the talks will focus on trust-building and the need to end the war, though he did not provide details on whether territorial concessions would be part of any settlement.
Diplomatic Uncertainty
While the framework of negotiations remains fluid, the U.S. official who confirmed the talks emphasized that participants and discussion points are still evolving. Given the complex geopolitical stakes, European nations have also expressed interest in being involved in the process, but no official role has been confirmed for them.
Saudi Arabia’s role as a neutral diplomatic host underscores its growing influence in global mediation efforts, following its previous efforts to facilitate prisoner exchanges and peace talks.
With the U.S., Russia, and possibly Ukraine all converging in Riyadh, the upcoming negotiations could represent a pivotal moment in efforts to end the war in Ukraine.