Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are en route to Saudi Arabia to kickstart negotiations aimed at achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine, as per sources familiar with the situation who informed NBC News. The exact timing of their departure was not disclosed, and it remains uncertain whether the trio have already set off on their journey. This strategic move comes shortly after President Donald Trump revealed that he had engaged in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the possibility of commencing talks to bring an end to the ongoing conflict between the two nations. Following the call, Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, stating, “We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other’s Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately.”
Amidst the backdrop of the Munich Security Conference, a platform dedicated to discussions on international security policy where the Russia-Ukraine conflict looms large, key figures from the Trump administration, such as Vice President JD Vance, Rubio, and U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg, have been engaged in discussions in Germany over the weekend. In Munich, Kellogg defended the necessity of engaging with Putin in the pursuit of peace between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing, “Whether you like it or not, you have to talk to adversaries.” Quoting the esteemed former Secretary of Defense General Mattis, Kellogg remarked, “As a great secretary of defense, General Mattis, once said: I may not like this son of a b—-, but I got to talk to him.”
Furthermore, Kellogg stressed the need for Western leaders to intensify efforts in enforcing sanctions against Russia while suggesting that potential negotiations regarding the conclusion of the conflict could involve discussions on Russia’s readiness to relinquish territory and disrupt Putin’s oil revenue stream. However, there has been some hesitancy within the administration to outline specific concessions expected from Russia in advance of possible negotiations. When pressed on what Russia should be willing to concede to reach a deal with Ukraine, Trump opted not to specify any particulars during a news conference held alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, expressing a stance against Ukraine joining NATO as part of a prospective peace agreement, indicated that the U.S. is inclined to support negotiations where Ukraine agrees to cede territories that have already been seized by the Kremlin. Addressing officials at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Hegseth acknowledged, “We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective.”
