Top Russian officers will maintain talks with U.S. counterparts on restoring ties, negotiating a peaceable settlement to the war in Ukraine and getting ready a gathering between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin mentioned Monday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s overseas affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov will fly to the Saudi capital later within the day to participate within the talks set for Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff instructed Fox Information Sunday that he and nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz additionally will participate within the talks.
Peskov mentioned the talks can be primarily centered on “restoring the whole complicated of U.S.-Russian relations, in addition to getting ready attainable talks on the Ukrainian settlement and organizing a gathering of the 2 presidents.”
The talks observe final week’s phone name between Trump and Putin wherein Trump mentioned they “agreed to have our respective groups begin negotiations instantly.” The decision upended years of U.S. coverage, ending the isolation of Moscow over its Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. After the decision with Putin, Trump phoned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to tell him about their dialog.
Trump on Sunday instructed reporters that Zelenskyy “can be concerned,” however didn’t elaborate, and it wasn’t instantly clear if any Ukrainians would participate within the talks in Saudi Arabia.
A Ukrainian delegation is in Saudi Arabia to pave the way in which for a attainable go to by Zelenskyy, a Ukrainian official mentioned.
Zelenskyy has mentioned he wouldn’t settle for any negotiations about Ukraine that don’t embrace his nation. European governments have additionally demanded a task.
Talking on Fox Information Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” program, Witkoff mentioned he and Waltz can be “having conferences on the path of the president,” and hope to make “some actually good progress with regard to Russia-Ukraine.”
In his TV interview, Witkoff didn’t straight reply to a query about whether or not Ukraine must quit a “significant slice” of its territory as a part of any negotiated settlement.
“These are particulars, and I’m not dismissive of the main points, they’re vital. However I feel the start right here is trust-building. It’s getting all people to grasp that this battle doesn’t belong persevering with, that it ought to finish. That’s what the president has directed us to do,” he mentioned.
Ukrainian Economic system Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, additionally a primary deputy prime minister, didn’t make clear whether or not there’s a hyperlink between Zelenskyy’s deliberate journey to Saudi Arabia and beforehand introduced U.S.-Russia talks. In a Fb submit, she mentioned the Ukrainian delegation’s focus is on strengthening financial ties as Kyiv “prepares to signal vital financial agreements with nations within the area.”
Andriy Yermak, a high Zelenskyy adviser, mentioned earlier Sunday there was no chance of Ukrainian and Russian representatives assembly straight within the quick future. In a Telegram submit, Yermak mentioned the Ukrainians weren’t planning to take action “till we develop a plan” to finish the battle and produce a few “simply peace.”
Mykhailo Podolyak, one other Zelenskyy adviser, on Saturday denied that Ukraine will take part in any deliberate U.S.-Russia conferences in Saudi Arabia. “There’s nothing on the negotiating desk that will be price discussing,” he instructed Ukrainian tv.
