Russia, Ukraine take ‘significant first step toward peace’ after Rubio-led negotiations, White House insists

Initial discussions between Trump administration officials and Russia in Saudi Arabia Tuesday marked a “significant milestone” in securing peace between Russia and Ukraine, according to the White House press secretary.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff met in Riyadh with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Putin’s foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov to hash out ways to end the conflict. Ukraine was notably absent from the negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to provide specifics about the discussions, but she emphasized that the Trump administration was committed to brokering a peace deal to end the conflict between the two countries.

“What I will tell you is that today, sitting down at the table was a significant first step toward peace,” Leavitt told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stating that an invitation to the talks wasn’t extended to Ukraine. As a result, he decided to postpone a scheduled trip to Saudi Arabia until March. Zelenskyy has consistently stressed that Ukraine must be involved in negotiations and reiterated that Ukraine wouldn’t accept a peace deal if excluded from negotiations.

Despite Ukraine’s absence, Leavitt assured that all parties, including other European allies, would have a seat at the negotiating table as the Trump administration sought to advance a peace deal.

“We’re ensuring that all parties are heard,” Leavitt said in an interview with Fox News’ “America Reports” on Tuesday. “But you have to speak to both sides of the war in order to truly negotiate a deal and problem solve. And this is a significant first step toward peace.”

President Donald Trump has been in communication with Zelenskyy and other European allies, such as French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump is scheduled to meet with the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House next week. Additionally, Trump and Zelenskyy spoke over the phone about the negotiations, with Zelenskyy expressing skepticism about Putin’s intentions for peace with Ukraine.

While Zelenskyy voiced appreciation for U.S. support, he emphasized that Ukraine must be an active participant in any negotiations involving its future. Trump has reassured Zelenskyy that Ukraine will have a seat at the negotiating table.

The first action following the meetings with Russian officials is to “reestablish the functionality of our respective missions in Washington and in Moscow,” Rubio stated. This diplomatic move is crucial for further progress in the peace negotiations.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted Trump to pledge on the campaign trail in 2024 that he would work towards resolving the conflict if re-elected. The discussions in Saudi Arabia represent a step towards fulfilling that promise.

As the peace talks continue, the international community remains hopeful for a resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The involvement of key stakeholders, including the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, is seen as essential for achieving lasting peace in the region.