U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday as part of a diplomatic push to explore potential pathways to ending the war in Ukraine. The visit, which includes meetings with Russian officials, has drawn international scrutiny, particularly over the Trump administration’s efforts to broker a deal without direct Ukrainian or European involvement.
Rubio is leading a U.S. delegation that includes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The trip follows Trump’s announcement that he expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia “very soon” to discuss the conflict, though details remain unclear.
A Peace Effort Without Ukraine?
The talks in Riyadh have sparked concerns among U.S. allies, who worry that any negotiations excluding Ukraine could undermine Kyiv’s position. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear in a recent interview with NBC’s Meet the Press that his country “will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia” unless Ukraine is directly involved.
When asked about these concerns during an appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation, Rubio pushed back against the idea that Ukraine was being sidelined.
“Ultimately, if there’s an opportunity to create an opening for a broader conversation that involves Ukraine, that involves ending the war, and that involves our European allies, we’re going to explore it,” Rubio said. He acknowledged that Ukraine and European nations must be part of any final negotiations but insisted that “we’re just not there yet.”
Middle East’s Role in Peace Talks
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy traveled to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, a country that has been floated as a potential site for formal peace talks. The UAE has played a role in past prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine and hosts a significant population of both Russian and Ukrainian expatriates.
While Rubio’s visit to Saudi Arabia signals an effort by the Trump administration to take a leading role in peace discussions, the lack of Ukrainian representation in the current talks raises questions about the credibility and viability of any agreement reached without Kyiv’s direct participation.
