Top U.S. officials to hold Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

A senior U.S. delegation is meeting with its Russian counterpart in Saudi Arabia for talks about ending the Kremlin's aggression against Kyiv.

The meeting also seeks to lay the ground for a summit between Trump and Putin.

Shin Ha-young tells us more.

Trump administration officials are preparing to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia to start talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

That's according to the U.S. Middle East envoy, talking to Fox News on Sunday.

"I'll be traveling there with the National Security adviser and we'll be having meetings at the direction of the president. And hopefully we'll make some really good progress with regard to Russia, Ukraine."

According to CNN, the talks are set to begin on Tuesday.

However, speaking to NBC News on the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had not been invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia, adding that Ukraine would never accept any deals made without them.

Regarding Ukraine's absence from the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News on Sunday that if real negotiations happen, Ukraine must be involved and that Europe must also be involved.

Amid European concern that the U.S. is moving ahead on talks with Russia without consultation, French President Emmanuel Macron has called leaders from key EU nations and the UK for an emergency security meeting on Monday.

One expert pointed out that while Ukraine and Europe could be involved later, if the talks proceed under the current structure, the impact on both Ukraine and Europe will be significant.

"From Europe's perspective, if the war ends with a Russian victory, expanding its territory toward Europe, it could face serious security threats and may strengthen its own military defenses. Ukraine could lose territory without any security guarantees, but there may still be room for negotiation, especially considering discussions around Ukraine's rare earth minerals and other factors."

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he is working hard to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine and that he believes the leaders of both countries want to stop fighting.

To a question asking about Ukraine's involvement in talks, he answered that Zelenskyy would be involved in the negotiations.

Trump also hinted that a meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia could happen soon but no date has been set.

Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.