Trump Administration Engages in Diplomatic Talks with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia

Top Trump administration officials are scheduled to meet separately with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia this week. Discussions will follow previous talks regarding a peace plan for Ukraine and attempts to repair US-Ukraine relations. President Trump is considering sanctions against Russia as part of the negotiations.

Trump administration officials are set to engage in separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia this week, as reported by CNN on March 9. President Trump noted, “Big meetings coming up, as you know, in Saudi Arabia. That’s going to include Russia, but Ukraine, we’ll see if we can get something done,” while aboard Air Force One.

These discussions will follow prior diplomatic engagements, including a US-Russian meeting held on February 18 in Saudi Arabia, which proposed a three-step peace plan: an initial ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and culminated by a final agreement.

This week’s planned negotiations are also a continuation of previous dialogues, including an Oval Office meeting last month with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where tensions arose as Trump and Vance challenged Zelensky concerning the war.

Efforts to mend relations are underway between US and Ukrainian officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is among those slated to meet the Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with reports indicating they will also meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh beforehand.

US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg described American pressure on Ukraine as analogous to “hitting a mule with a board on the nose – you got their attention,” implying that the suspension of military aid was a tactic to incentivize negotiations.

Furthermore, President Trump expressed readiness to exert pressure on Russia, suggesting on Truth Social that he is “seriously considering implementing massive Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs against Russia until a ceasefire and FINAL PEACE AGREEMENT is reached.” Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed on March 10 that no US-Russia meetings will occur this week.

In summary, this week’s meetings in Saudi Arabia between US officials and Russian and Ukrainian delegations represent an important diplomatic effort aimed at resolving ongoing tensions in Ukraine. The discussions follow significant prior meetings and are characterized by strategic external pressures on both Russia and Ukraine, indicating a complex negotiation landscape. The outcomes of these meetings could play a pivotal role in shaping future US-Ukraine relations and broader regional stability.

Original Source: euromaidanpress.com