**US and Russia to Meet in Saudi Arabia**
A group of US officials is set to meet with their Russian counterparts on February 18 in Saudi Arabia. The meeting aims to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
The US delegation will be led by State Secretary Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. However, it’s not clear who will represent Russia at the talks.
**Ukraine Left Out**
Concerns have been raised about whether Ukraine will be involved in the negotiations. European officials say that Kyiv must play a key role in the discussions. But so far, Ukraine has not received an invitation to attend the meeting in Riyadh.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that he found out about the meetings through media reports and doesn’t know what they’re about. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelensky, denied that Ukraine will participate in the talks, saying “There is nothing on the negotiating table that would be worth discussing.”
**US Reassures Ukraine**
However, US President Donald Trump reassured Zelensky that he will have a say in the process. Trump also mentioned the possibility of allowing European nations to purchase US-made weapons for Ukraine.
Rubio echoed similar comments, saying that Ukraine and Europe must play a role in serious negotiations with the US and Russia to end the war.
**Meetings Ahead**
The upcoming meetings come amid an official visit by Zelensky to the United Arab Emirates. He has planned trips to Saudi Arabia and Turkey in the coming days. However, Zelensky said he has no plans to meet with any Russian or US delegations while in the Middle East.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
