Senior officials from Donald Trump’s administration are heading to Saudi Arabia to initiate peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, according to a Republican lawmaker and two U.S. officials familiar with the plan, as reported by Politico.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz will join Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, in the coming days to launch negotiations aimed at ending the war. However, retired General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s designated special envoy for the talks, will not be attending, officials confirmed.
There are currently no plans for representatives from other major European powers to join the negotiations. This exclusion may strain relations with NATO allies, who have publicly urged President Trump to ensure their participation in any discussions.
The meeting marks a significant moment in Trump’s efforts to broker peace and would be the first high-profile negotiation between Russian and Ukrainian representatives since the war began in 2022.
Trump Seeks Direct Talks with Putin
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump stated that he expects a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia. “We will finally meet,” Trump said. “We’ll see if we can make something happen.”
At the Munich Security Conference, senior European officials stressed that Ukraine must be directly involved in any discussions between Trump and Putin. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed that any peace deal must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty. “A dictated peace will never have our support,” he said.
Republican Congressman Mike McCaul echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that any agreement must include Ukrainian representatives. “The President wants peace, but it must be a deal where the Ukrainians have a seat at the table,” McCaul stated.
European Concerns Over U.S. Approach
The Munich conference underscored growing concerns among European leaders regarding America’s future commitment to transatlantic security under Trump. U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s fiery speech left many participants uneasy about Washington’s stance.
Ahead of the conference, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership as part of any peace negotiations. He also dismissed the possibility of deploying American or NATO troops as part of a future peacekeeping force. These remarks sparked criticism, including from Republican lawmakers, leading Hegseth to partially retract his comments.
The potential exclusion of Ukraine and European allies from peace talks has raised alarm among diplomats in Europe. Some view this as a sign of Washington’s dominant role in negotiations. “If you have to insist that you are relevant, you probably aren’t,” remarked one European diplomat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains skeptical of Putin’s intentions. “Trump told me that Putin wants to stop the war. I told him: ‘Putin is a liar. I hope you pressure him because I don’t trust him,’” Zelensky said in Munich.
Trump’s administration has reportedly proposed a plan to Zelensky, suggesting Ukraine provide access to its rare earth mineral reserves in exchange for continued U.S. military support.
