Trump confirms Zelensky will participate in Ukraine peace talks as US, Russia put together Saudi assembly

A workforce of advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump is ready to satisfy with Russian officers subsequent week in Saudi Arabia to start negotiations aimed toward ending the battle in Ukraine, two U.S. authorities officers aware of the matter informed CBS Information.

The delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Nationwide Safety Adviser Mike Waltz, and Center East envoy Steve Witkoff, will characterize Trump in discussions following his latest telephone calls with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump confirmed the efforts, including that the U.S. is working onerous to facilitate peace and assuring that Zelensky might be concerned within the talks.

Considerations have been raised about Ukraine's function within the negotiations, with European officers emphasizing that Kyiv should not be sidelined. Trump reaffirmed that Zelensky would have a say within the course of and talked about the opportunity of permitting European nations to buy U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine.

Nevertheless, he expressed skepticism about Zelensky’s warning that Russia might escalate its battle past Ukraine if the U.S. withdraws from NATO. Rubio, talking on CBS' "Face the Nation," on Feb. 16 stated Trump would rapidly decide whether or not Russia’s curiosity in peace is real or merely a tactic to purchase time.

Discussions between the U.S. and Russia have already begun, with Rubio talking to Russian International Minister Sergei Lavrov over the weekend, in response to CBS.

The potential phrases of an settlement stay unclear. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that "every part is on the desk" however urged Ukraine’s NATO membership is unlikely. Trump echoed this sentiment, saying that Russia has lengthy opposed Ukraine becoming a member of the alliance and implying that this stance wouldn’t change. Hegseth additionally forged doubt on Ukraine's capability to reclaim all its territory, together with Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

Additional high-level discussions are anticipated, with Trump confirming that he plans to satisfy with Putin in Saudi Arabia "very quickly," although he didn’t specify a date.

Trump says peace talks to start ‘immediately.’ But what terms would be acceptable for Ukraine?U.S. President Donald Trump on Feb. 12 held phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine will start “immediately.” “I just spoke to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The conversation went very well. He,…The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov