The Trump administration believes that the Ukraine leadership is “ready to move forward” regarding the American demand for a ceasefire with Russia, according to an official at the US State Department.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz will arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday with their Ukrainian counterparts.
President Donald Trump has intensified his Ukrainian counterpart, Voludimir Zelinski, to accept his demands for a quick fire with Moscow – but without any immediate pledge to ensure American security.
Ten days ago, the two publicly clashed at the White House, as Trump claimed that Zelinski was not ready to end the fighting.
Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a large -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow is currently controlling about 20 % of Ukrainian lands.
“The fact that they come here at the highest levels is a good indication for us that they want to sit and that they are ready to move forward,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provided that his identity is not disclosed in order to discuss the talks with Ukraine in Jeddah.
While Zelinski is also decided in the Kingdom of the Gulf to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, it is not expected that any official role in the talks with the Americans is expected to play with the Americans.
The Ukrainian team will represent the head of the Zelinski Andrei Yermak office, the country’s national security adviser, as well as foreign and defense ministers.
In his late Sunday’s video address, Zelensky said: “We hope to get the results – whether in the approaching peace or in constant support.”
Zelensky was subjected to strong pressure in the United States to make concessions before any peace talks, while he was pushing for fixed security guarantees Kiev, stressing that Putin violated previous ceasefire deals.
Any similar pressure the United States did not put on Moscow to make concessions that have not been publicly published.
Shortly after the White House, Zelinski expressed regret the incident and tried to fix relations with the United States – the largest military resource in the country.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Whitkov, later said that Trump had received a message from Zelinski that included “an apology” and “a feeling of gratitude.”
Witkeov said that in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the American team wanted to discuss a “framework” for peace to try to end the war of Russia, Ukraine.
The main metal deal – which went out of the track due to the row – was reported to the agenda in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine offered to grant the United States access to its rare ground metal reserves in exchange for US security guarantees.
The clash in the White House also stopped all military aid to Ukraine and stopped exchanging intelligence.
But when he was asked on Sunday if he would think about raising the intercession, Trump replied: “Well, we have been convicted. I mean, we really want to do anything we can make Ukraine serious about accomplishing something.” Not provided more details.
On February 18 – before the United States, Ukraine in Washington – Rubio held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was a follow -up to Trump’s controversial phone conversation with Putin.
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