Senior Trump administration officers are travelling to Saudi Arabia to start peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators.

Supply: Politico, citing Republican Congressman Michael McCaul and two US officers; Bloomberg, citing sources

Particulars: Politico experiences Trump's nationwide safety adviser Mike Volz will be part of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president's Center East envoy Steve Witkoff within the coming days to start talks to finish the conflict.

On the similar time, based on officers, Trump's particular consultant for Ukraine-Russia talks, retired Common Keith Kellogg, won’t be current on the talks.

Officers additionally mentioned that representatives of different main European powers should not anticipated to attend the talks.

Michael McCaul, a Republican lawmaker from Texas, confirmed Volz and Witkoff's plans to affix Rubio in Saudi Arabia to begin talks between the 2 fighters in a remark to Politico on the sidelines of the Munich Safety Convention.

Two US officers, who requested anonymity, confirmed the plans however didn’t disclose different particulars concerning the conferences, together with which Ukrainian or Russian negotiators can be concerned. A spokesman for the Ukrainian authorities and the State Division didn’t reply to a request for remark.

In the meantime, Bloomberg experiences that senior officers from the US and Russia will meet subsequent week in Saudi Arabia to organize for a possible summit of leaders on the finish of the month to debate ending the conflict in Ukraine.

The small print of the assembly and the record of members are nonetheless being labored out, however folks briefed on the plans say the group is more likely to include nationwide safety advisers. In line with one individual, the objective is to set a gathering date earlier than the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in March.

One other official, who spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned that almost all Europeans haven’t but been knowledgeable of the talks.

"And whereas officers from Ukraine are anticipated, additionally they don’t seem like absolutely within the loop on the preparations," the article mentioned.

Background:

• On 15 February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he was unaware of the invitation to Saudi Arabia and expressed concern that the plan was developed exterior Kyiv's management.
• In line with the newspaper's sources, the Saudi authorities invited representatives of the USA, Russia and Ukraine to a gathering in Riyadh. The talks are being convened by Saudi Nationwide Safety Adviser Musaed al-Aiban. Nonetheless, the supply added that the plans might change on the final minute.

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