The United States intends to hold a series of bilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine, and then organize joint negotiations, NBC News reports, citing informed sources. According to two American officials, Ukraine has not been invited to the talks, which are to take place in Saudi Arabia.
According to the plans of the Donald Trump administration, bilateral meetings will first be held with Russia, and then with Ukraine. Only after that will a joint round of negotiations be organized with the participation of both countries. As officials noted, the United States is working with both sides “with equal weight” and wants to achieve a lasting peace by ending the violence.
Despite these statements, Trump administration officials have been reluctant to talk about potential concessions from Russia before the talks. Donald Trump, when asked about what Russia would have to give up to reach an agreement with Ukraine, said it was too early to talk about specific details.
“Maybe Russia will give up a lot, maybe not, and it all depends on what happens,” he said during a press conference in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has signaled that the U.S. may oppose Ukraine joining NATO as part of a peace deal, added that the United States would likely support negotiations in which Ukraine could cede territory already seized by Russia. “We want a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine, but we have to start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s 2014 borders is an unrealistic goal,” Hegseth stressed.
These talks are expected to be an important step towards ending the war in Ukraine. However, it remains unclear what concessions the parties are willing to make to achieve peace.
