Senior Trump administration officials are preparing to meet with top Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia to initiate discussions on ending the war in Ukraine, multiple sources confirm.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to attend, with the meeting set to take place in the coming days, according to sources familiar with the plans.
While the specific Russian officials attending remain undisclosed, reports indicate that the Kremlin has assembled a high-level negotiating team, including political, intelligence, and economic figures, as well as Kirill Dmitriev, who was instrumental in a recent U.S. prisoner exchange.
President Donald Trump stated earlier this week that negotiations to resolve the nearly three-year-long Ukraine conflict would begin “immediately” following a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This marked the first known conversation between the two leaders since Trump assumed office last month.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul confirmed the meeting plans during an interview at the Munich Security Conference, mentioning discussions involving Ukrainian representatives as well.
Trump has suggested that he could meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia soon but emphasized that no formal decision has been made. He also noted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would play a role in the talks, with Witkoff acknowledging the crown prince’s key role in securing the recent release of detained American Marc Fogel.
Rubio, who arrived in Israel on Saturday, spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier in the day. The State Department confirmed the call, stating that Rubio reaffirmed Trump’s commitment to resolving the Ukraine conflict and explored potential areas for U.S.-Russia cooperation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry characterized the conversation as a step toward continued dialogue, including preparations for a high-level U.S.-Russia meeting.
Meanwhile, Keith Kellogg, the Trump administration’s Russia-Ukraine envoy, stated at the Munich Security Conference that Russia would need to make concessions, primarily regarding territorial matters and renouncing the use of force. He also suggested that the U.S. could pressure Russia through sanctions targeting its oil revenue and by disrupting alliances with Iran, North Korea, and China.
Kellogg emphasized that European nations would not be part of the negotiations, citing past diplomatic failures like the Minsk II agreement. However, he confirmed that Ukrainian representatives would be involved in the discussions.
He described the peace efforts as operating on “dual tracks,” with parallel negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine. Witkoff is handling the Russian side, while Kellogg is focusing on U.S.-Ukrainian and allied discussions to expedite the process.
