US and Russia Plan Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine Conflict

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A significant diplomatic meeting between the United States and Russia is set to take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, February 17, 2025, as efforts to negotiate peace in the ongoing Ukraine conflict intensify. According to Kremlin sources, high-ranking officials including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov in Riyadh.

The discussions aim to address proposals recently presented by the U.S. government regarding a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth indicated potential concerns for Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and territorial claims from 2014, noting the unrealistic nature of these expectations. Although the Ukrainian government remains absent from this initial dialogue, Rubio stressed the necessity of Ukraine’s involvement in any real negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously stated that any peace settlement without Ukrainian input would be unacceptable, further seeking security guarantees from the U.S.

The meeting follows a controversial phone call between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting a shift in U.S. strategy towards the conflict.

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