Top Trump Officials to Meet Russian Delegates for Ukraine Talks

In a significant diplomatic development, top officials from the Trump administration are preparing to meet with senior Russian officials to initiate discussions on ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia to engage in these pivotal talks. The move comes at a time when President Donald Trump has signaled a strong intent to conclude the nearly three-year war, expressing optimism following a recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to sources familiar with the planning, the meeting is set to occur within the next few days. Although specific details about the Russian delegation remain undisclosed, it is reported that the Kremlin is assembling a high-level negotiating team inclusive of top political, intelligence, and economic representatives. Among them is Kirill Dmitriev, who previously played a critical role in a US prisoner release agreement.

President Trump recently highlighted the importance of swift negotiations, outlining ambitions for a direct meeting with Putin, potentially in Saudi Arabia. This prospective alignment is backed by the involvement of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has already shown diplomatic acumen in securing the release of detained American Marc Fogel.

Parallel to these preparations, Secretary Rubio held discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, reaffirming the US's commitment to resolving the Ukraine conflict while exploring further bilateral cooperation opportunities. Both countries acknowledged the need for continuous dialogue to pave the way for a high-level US-Russian meeting.

Meanwhile, Trump's envoy to Russia-Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, asserted that Russia must be prepared to offer concessions, initially focused on territorial adjustments and forgoing force. This stance was reinforced during the Munich Security Conference, where Kellogg emphasized America's strategic use of sanctions to apply economic pressure on Moscow, particularly targeting Russia's oil-reliant revenue streams.

Despite these developments, President Trump remains reserved about the specific conditions under which Russia should concede. However, the US administration is keen to continue its dual-track negotiation strategy, balancing direct Russian engagement led by Witkoff with a steadfast alliance with Ukraine. The diplomatic efforts underscore a complex but hopeful path toward ending one of Europe's most protracted conflicts.