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The initial debate between Trump administration officials in Saudi Arabia and Russia in Saudi Arabia marked a “significant milestone” in ensuring peace between Russia and Ukraine, according to a White House spokesman. .
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House national security adviser Michael Waltz, Middle East envoy Steve Witkov, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Putin’s foreign affairs advisor Yuri Yushkhakov and Russia’s Vladimir – Met with President Putin. Conflict. Ukraine lacked negotiations in Saudi Arabia.
White House spokesman Caroline Levitt refused to provide details about the debate, but she said the Trump administration is committed to mediating a peace deal to end the conflict between the two countries. .
“What I say to you is that sitting at the table today was an important first step towards peace,” Leavitt told White House reporters Tuesday.
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White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said the Trump administration has pledged to mediate a peace agreement to end the conflict between the two countries. (Evan Vucci/AP)
Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelensky said at a joint press conference with Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday that the invitation to talks has not been extended to Ukraine and postponed planned trip to Saudi Arabia until March He said he is doing so.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine must be involved in the negotiations, and on Sunday said that Ukraine would not accept the peace deal if his country lacked negotiations.
But Lewitt said everyone will sit at the negotiation table (including other European allies) as the Trump administration aims to advance a peace deal.
“We ensure that all involved listen,” Leavitt said Tuesday in an interview with Fox New’s “America Reports.” “But you have to speak to both sides of the war to truly negotiate the deal and the matter. And this is an important first step towards peace.”
Russia’s top US authorities meet in Saudi Arabia to launch talks on the Ukrainian war without Kiev officials
Secretary of State for the Centre, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a meeting at the Diliya Palace with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He sits next to envoy Steve Witkoff. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 18, 2025 (Applications)
Lewitt said President Donald Trump was in line with Zelensky and spoke with other European allies, such as French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. She also said Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer at the White House next week.
Trump and Zelensky also spoke on the phone about the negotiations on Wednesday, saying that Zelensky told them he believed Putin was not interested in peace with Ukraine.
“I said that [Putin] I’m a liar,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” which aired Sunday. “I think my feelings are ready for these negotiations,” he said. And I said to him, “No, he is a liar. He doesn’t want peace.”
Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the US support, but he said, “There is no world leader who can really do business with President Putin without us.”
“I will never accept decisions between the US and Russia regarding Ukraine,” Zelensky said in “The Encounter.”
Putin is “a little scary” for Trump when the nation begins peace talks, Zelensky says
President Donald Trump (center), President of Ukrainian Volodmia Zelensky (left), and President of Russia Vladimir Putin (right). (Alessandro Bremec/Nurphoto via Getty Images | Contributor/Getty Images | Scott Olson/Getty Images)
But Trump provided the peace of mind that Zelensky would be involved in the peace conversation and told reporters Sunday at the tarmac at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, that Ukraine would sit at the negotiation table.
The first lawsuit that the US will follow in a meeting with Russian officials is to “re-establish the functions of their respective missions in Washington and Moscow.”
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“We need diplomatic facilities that operate and function properly to ensure we can continue this path,” Rubio said.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and Trump vowed to work on the campaign trail in 2024 to end the conflict if elected again.
Fox News’ Emma Colton and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.
Diana Stancy is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, covering the White House.
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