President Donald Trump has told reporters that he will meet with Vladimir Putin “very soon” to discuss the war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump said he was working hard to achieve peace, and said he believes both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky want to stop fighting.
It comes as the United States and Russia are preparing for initial talks in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier today Ukraine and Europe would be part of any “real negotiations” to end the war.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters upon arrival in West Palm Beach, Florida,
Reuters
President Putin
Reuters
Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian government source told the BBC Kyiv officials had not been invited to talks between the US and Russia aimed at ending the war
Leaders from across Europe have also not been asked to join the discussions, and are instead set to meet in Paris at a summit hastily arranged by the French president, as fears grow the continent is being locked out of negotiations.
Earlier this weekend, President Zelensky told NBC News that he would “never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never.”
Rubio downplayed the Saudi Arabia talks, adding that a formal negotiating process that would involve Ukraine, Russia and third parties – had not yet been set up.
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Ukraine President Volodymyr ZelenskyPA
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the rumours of talks
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Rubio told CBS News: “President Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin last week, and in it, Vladimir Putin expressed his interest in peace, and the president expressed his desire to see an end to this conflict in a way that was enduring and that protected Ukrainian sovereignty.
“Now, obviously it has to be followed up by action, so the next few weeks and days will determine whether it’s serious or not. Ultimately, one phone call does not make peace.”
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz were due to leave for Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening, Witkoff said in a Fox News interview.
Rubio noted he was due to be in Saudi Arabia anyway due to previously arranged official travel. The composition of the Russian delegation had not yet been finalised, he said.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with Marco Rubio over the phone
Reuters
When asked if he had discussed lifting sanctions on Russia during a Saturday phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Rubio declined to provide confirmation, saying only that they “did not go into any details.”
After the call, Moscow said that the two had discussed the removal of “unilateral barriers” set by the previous US administration in relations with Russia.
Rubio said he did address the “difficult” operating conditions of the US embassy in Moscow with Lavrov. If there was to be progress in Ukraine peacemaking, both Russia and the US would need “properly functioning embassies” in the other country, he added.