US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has landed in Saudi Arabia in anticipation of high-stakes negotiations with top Russian diplomats over the war in Ukraine.
The state department reported Secretary Rubio met with leading Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and discussed US-Saudi Arabia relations, the Israel-Hamas war, and preserving safety in the broader region.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry ambiguously alluded to Rubio discussing international conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, as they stated Rubio and Saudi officials “exchanged views on regional and international developments.”
Rubio’s Saudi Arabia visit comes after President Donald Trump initiated bilateral discussion with Russian President Vladymyr Putin on negotiating an end to Russia’s war with Ukraine.
As The Floridian’s Jackson Bakich reported, President Trump intends to restore friendly relations between Russia and the US.
Trump shared his acknowledgment of both the United States and Russia's partnership during World War II, and how that relationship could be restored, claiming “working together” would lead to “great benefit.”
Rubio, Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been tasked with leading the US-Russia negotiations, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine and European states will be notably absent from the negotiations.
France, Germany, and various other European states, in conjunction with the European Union, have belittled the US’ negotiations with Russia as capitulating to Russia’s interests.
The Trump administration has reportedly rejected such claims and instead characterized the negotiations with Russia as an initial introduction into Russia’s intentions and desires vis-a-vis Ukraine.
Trump has repeatedly stated he intends to end the war in Ukraine.
During the campaign trail, Trump promised he would negotiate an end to the war “very quickly.”
