US Officials Head to Riyadh for Ukraine Talks and Potential US–Russia Summit

Reports indicate that the U.S. delegation, which includes high-level figures from the Trump administration, is preparing to take part in negotiations involving Ukrainian and Russian representatives in the Saudi capital. This initiative, as outlined by Kommersant and earlier news from The Washington Post, underscores efforts to advance peace talks in a region that may soon host a broader summit.

According to additional sources from Politico and Bloomberg, American officials are scheduled to meet with their counterparts as part of a broader peace process. While key figures such as Secretary Rubio, National Security Advisor Walz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are confirmed attendees, Keith Kellogg—another envoy for Ukraine-Russia discussions—will not be part of this particular delegation.

The planning for these discussions follows a recent phone call between President Trump and Russian President Putin, marking their first direct interaction since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in early 2022. During the call, both leaders agreed to continue their dialogue and to explore potential in-person meetings, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a possible host country for these future talks.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Riyadh was mentioned during the conversation as a potential meeting site, though he noted that no final decision has been reached regarding the location of a summit. This exchange of remarks and the upcoming meeting reflect ongoing efforts by both nations to manage tensions and reopen channels for high-level communication amid continued instability in the region.