U.S. Team to Convene with Ukraine Ahead of Negotiations with Russia in Saudi Arabia

The U.S. technical team will meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia on Sunday before engaging with Russia. A follow-up meeting may occur if progress is made. The talks are positioned as technical, without political contact with Russia planned, and high-level representation from Ukraine is ensured.
A U.S. technical team is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, prior to discussions with Russian representatives on Monday. Should discussions yield significant advancements, an additional meeting with the Ukrainian team may occur later on the same day. CBS News correspondent Jennifer Jacobs reported these developments, citing reliable sources from within the White House.
During these ceasefire negotiations, the U.S. team will not include Secretary of State Marco Rubio or National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Jacobs indicates that should progress be achieved with the Russian delegates in Riyadh, a follow-up meeting with the Ukrainians might be arranged, which reflects the ongoing diplomatic efforts from the Trump administration’s shuttle diplomacy approach.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the meeting between the American and Ukrainian teams will take place on Monday in Saudi Arabia, a venue that has been selected for the discussions. It has been clarified by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tykhyi that the upcoming engagement will be a technical round, rather than a political one, with no direct contacts planned with the Russian delegation.
U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, indicated that the intent of the Trump administration’s negotiations in Saudi Arabia is to explore the terms that both Ukraine and Russia require to conclude the ongoing conflict. President Zelenskyy mentioned that high-level Ukrainian representatives will attend the meeting, including Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, ensuring a technically proficient team is present to facilitate discussions.
In summary, a U.S. technical team will engage with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia in anticipation of talks with Russia. The focus will be on facilitating a ceasefire agreement through technical discussions. The absence of high-profile U.S. officials suggests a more strategic, indirect approach to the negotiations, reinforcing the importance of understanding each side’s conditions to conclude the ongoing conflict.
Original Source: unn.ua