Following President Trump's recent cast of doubt on U.S. backing for Ukraine, the officials are scheduled to meet next week to discuss the initial stages of an agreement.
Following a week of U.S. actions that raised doubts about its support for Ukraine, top U.S. and Ukrainian officials are scheduled to meet next week to discuss the initial stages of an agreement that might seek an end to the violence in that nation.
The meeting is anticipated to take place in Saudi Arabia and was confirmed by both President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.
Less than a week had passed since the two men's heated exchange in the Oval Office, during which Mr. Trump accused Mr. Zelensky of being unappreciative of U.S. assistance and threatened to desert Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's incursion. Later, Mr. Trump suspended all military assistance to Ukraine.
Since then, both parties have shown a desire to establish an agreement whereby the United States would receive a portion of the profits from Ukraine's mineral resources, and Mr. Zelensky has generally voiced sorrow over the outcome of that meeting.
In a statement released Thursday, Mr. Zelensky stated, "Ukrainian and American teams have resumed work, and we hope that next week we will have a meaningful meeting."
"Military representatives of countries that are ready to make greater efforts to reliably guarantee security within the framework of ending this war" will meet with Ukraine's team, Mr. Zelensky added. He stated that the meeting would take place on Tuesday, but he did not say who would be present.
Russia has indicated an openness to discussions, but it has not stated whether it would accept a cease-fire or an agreement to end the war. Last month, Russian officials met with top Trump officials in Saudi Arabia.
There is still much uncertainty among European officials on their ability to act as Ukraine's ultimate security backstop if America withdraws from the war-torn nation. Though it hasn't presented a detailed peace plan, the Trump administration froze military aid and intelligence cooperation with Ukraine this week to put pressure on Kyiv to engage in negotiations on its terms.
The Trump administration's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, informed reporters outside the White House on Thursday that the talks would be held in Saudi Arabia.
"The city is moving around a little bit; we are currently in talks to arrange a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or even possibly Jeddah," Mr. Witkoff stated. "The goal is to establish a foundation for a peace deal and a preliminary cease-fire as well," he continued.
Mr. Witkoff claimed that Ukraine's relationship with the United States had improved as a result of Mr. Zelensky's remarks following the Oval Office confrontation, which praised the strength of Mr. Trump's leadership. Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance chastised the Ukrainian president last Friday for not expressing enough appreciation for the more than $100 billion in military assistance provided by the United States.
"President Zelensky has shown that he is intent on that good-faith path back," Mr. Witkoff stated, adding that he thought Zelensky's letter was a very encouraging first step. He has expressed regret. He has expressed gratitude. "I want to work toward peace," he stated. Mr. Witkoff went on to say that he thought Mr. Zelensky was open to signing a minerals agreement to establish a fund under U.S. management that would be able to profit from Ukraine's natural resources.
Mr. Zelensky stated that to determine whether a sustainable peace could be achieved, the Ukrainians would demand several promises from Russia at the meeting next week. These demands include a ceasefire on missiles, bombs, and long-range drones; no military operations in the Black Sea; and Russian promises not to target Ukraine's energy or other civilian facilities.
Mr. Zelensky stated, "Ukrainians genuinely desire peace, but not at the expense of ceding Ukraine." "Whether Russia can give up the war is the real question for any negotiations."
Moscow has not publicly stated that it would accept a cease-fire, truce, or an end to the conflict that it started three years ago. However, Mr. Witkoff claimed that Russia has indicated a willingness to carry on the conversation.
"Hopefully that will be a good signal to the Russians because they have been proactive too in wanting to get something done here," Mr. Witkoff said of the negotiations with Ukraine.
France has proposed putting together a European peacekeeping force after the war is over, and Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the country was willing to send troops to Ukraine "for safety reasons." Additionally, he stated that during the past several days, U.S. negotiators have "made a lot of progress with Ukraine and a lot of progress with Russia."
He was also hopeful that a peace deal will eventually be reached.
"I don't think they have a choice, so I think what's going to happen is Ukraine wants to make a deal," Mr. Trump stated. "I also believe that Russia wants to reach an agreement because they have no other option in a certain way, which only I am aware of."
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