Trump aide Witkoff says he is arranging talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Middle East envoy Witkoff speaks to members of the news media at the White House

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff speaks to members of the news media outside of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

Source: REUTERS

By Steve Holland

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Thursday he is in discussions with Ukraine for a peace agreement framework to end hostilities with Russia and that a meeting is planned next week with the Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia.

"We're now in discussions to coordinate a meeting with the Ukrainians," Witkoff told reporters at the White House. He said it would likely be in Riyadh or Jeddah.

Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had acrimonious talks at the White House on February 28 but since then the two sides have resumed work on a revenue-sharing minerals deal.

At his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Trump said he had received a letter from Zelenskiy in which the Ukrainian leader said he was "ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible."

Referring to the Saudi Arabia meeting, Witkoff said, "I think the idea is to get down a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire as well."

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters