Trump team to start Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

President Donald Trump walks to speak with reporters before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, en route to West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) (Ben Curtis/AP)

MUNICH/WASHINGTON — Senior officials from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will start peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, according to a U.S. lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul told Reuters.

McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said it was his understanding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been invited to participate.

He said the talks were aimed at arranging a meeting with Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy “to finally bring peace and end this conflict.”

Zelenskyy said on Saturday Ukraine would never accept any peace deals reached behind its back or without Kyiv’s involvement. Ukraine has repeatedly said it wants to come together with the United States and Europe to devise a joint strategy before any Trump-Putin meeting.

Parallel negotiations on a critical minerals deal continued on Saturday, with Zelenskyy saying a draft from Washington did not contain the security provisions that Kyiv needed. Three sources said the United States had proposed taking ownership of 50% of Ukraine’s critical minerals.

Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, said Ukraine would have a seat at the table during any peace negotiations with Russia over ending the war.

Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alistair Bell