US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia to discuss peace talks regarding the Ukraine conflict. Notably, European nations are excluded from these discussions, leading to concerns and an emergency summit in Paris. Previous negotiations have faltered due to too many parties involved. Meanwhile, recent rhetoric hints at potential concessions to Russia, raising alarm among European allies.

Marco Rubio, the United States Secretary of State, is scheduled to convene with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to engage in discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. He will be accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, as reported by US officials speaking to CBS News.

Keith Kellogg, the US Special Envoy to Ukraine, indicated that representatives from Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv will participate in the negotiations, although European nations will not be included. This has caused concern among Ukraine’s European allies, prompting them to convene in Paris the following week for an emergency summit focused on the war.

Kellogg noted that past negotiations have faltered due to the involvement of too many stakeholders. He emphasized the necessity for a more streamlined approach, stating, “It may be like chalk on the blackboard, it may grate a little bit, but I am telling you something that is really quite honest.”

Meanwhile, Rubio held a conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, reaffirming President Donald Trump’s commitment to bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine. This dialogue occurred shortly after a call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, where direct communication between the nations was surprisingly re-established after a hiatus of over three years.

The discussions in Saudi Arabia follow tensions arising from the recent Munich Security Conference, where US Vice President JD Vance criticized European countries’, urging them to bolster their own defense mechanisms. In a related context, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth suggested that Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the full reclamation of its territories may be unlikely, raising alarms among European allies about potential concessions to Russia.

The conflict escalated when Russia commenced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, following its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the takeover of parts of the eastern Donbas region. During the Munich conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the formation of a united European defense force amid worries that the United States may not extend its support as effectively as before.

Zelensky stated, “We cannot rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it.” This sentiment underscores the growing concerns regarding European security and the future of transatlantic relations as peace talks with Russia are contemplated without European involvement.

The impending meetings in Saudi Arabia involving high-level US officials and Russian representatives are a significant step towards addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, the exclusion of European allies from these negotiations raises critical concerns about regional security and the implications for transatlantic relations. As these developments unfold, European nations appear increasingly anxious about their defense and support amidst a potentially shifting approach from the United States.

Original Source: www.bbc.com

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