Rubio meets Saudi crown prince, foreign minister ahead of US-Russia talks

To continue reading this article, users are required to log in or create a free account on Fox News. By entering your email and agreeing to the terms of use and privacy policy, you can access the content. This particular article discusses Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s meeting with Saudi Arabian officials before scheduled talks between U.S. and Russian diplomats to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war.

Rubio, along with U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. They also held discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud. These meetings were part of Rubio’s first trip to the Middle East as secretary of state.

The upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia between the U.S. and Russia aim to address the conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials will not be present at the negotiating table. The Russian delegation, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, will engage in discussions with the U.S. delegation.

The main focus of the talks is to assess Russia’s commitment to peace and determine the feasibility of detailed negotiations. While Ukraine will not participate in Tuesday’s discussions, it is emphasized that any actual peace negotiations will involve Ukraine.

The talks in Saudi Arabia are seen as laying the groundwork for a summit between President Trump and President Putin. Trump recently spoke with Putin, leading to the initiation of negotiations between the two countries. French President Emmanuel Macron is also convening a meeting in Paris to address the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Secretary Rubio and Advisor Waltz are optimistic about making progress in the negotiations. However, there are concerns about potential territorial concessions by Ukraine as part of a settlement. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed disappointment at not being invited to the talks and emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s involvement in any decision-making process.

Overall, the discussions in Saudi Arabia hold significance in efforts to bring an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The involvement of key officials from the U.S., Russia, and Saudi Arabia signals a concerted effort towards peace and stability in the region. Users can access the full article on Fox News by logging in or creating a free account.