Waltz confirms progress in US-Ukraine talks

White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said the United States is progressing in talks with a high Ukrainian delegation being held in the city of Saudi Arabia. Mr. Waltz made comments to reporters during a brief pause of talks. Meanwhile US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is leading the American delegation, did not answer questions from journalists.

The meeting began at noon at the local clock, in the city by the Red Sea. The parties decided to take a pause after over 3 and a half hours of conversation. Andriy Yermak, chief of the Cabinet of President Ukrainian Volodomyr Zelensky, part of the Ukrainian delegation, in a post on the social network X; He wrote « At work ». Mr. Yermak also appreciated that « the meeting has begun very constructively ».

During the meeting the Ukrainian delegation is expected to introduce a partial ceasefire plan with Russia. The Ukrainian plan involves stopping long -range rocket attacks and a ceasefire covering the Black Sea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not attending Tuesday's meeting. Ukraine is represented by his staff chief Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umarov and Commander Paul Palisa.

Prior to the meeting, President Zelensky wrote in « X » that Ukraine hopes for « practical results ». The Kremlin said the United States is trying to understand how much Kiev is ready for talks that will end the war. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, run the United States delegation between President Donald Trump's efforts to mediate a rapid end of war that began in 2022. Secretary Rubio said on Monday that the United States is hoping to continue to continue aid to Ukraine.

He said that Washington went to the meeting in order to figure out what omissions he is ready to make Ukraine. “Ukrainians are now receiving all intelligence information. Hope to resolve the issue of temporary prohibition of aid. What will happen during the meeting is of key importance to this issue, ”Secretary Rubio reporters told the plane on the way to Judah, Saudi Arabia. « During the meeting we will not discuss major issues, but we will understand what omissions are ready to make the Ukrainians, » said Mr. Rubio. He added that there is no military solution to the war and that Russia and Ukraine should be able to « make difficult decisions ».

On Monday, the Saudi Prince of Crown Mohammed bin Salman met with secretary Rubio in the city of Red Sea, Jedah where the US-Ukraine meeting is being held. Prince Salman also met with President Zelensky in Riyadh before meeting with the American chief diplomat.

Will the mineral agreement be reached?

President Trump has said the continuation of military support for Kiev depends on the agreement on rare Ukrainian minerals. Dozens of minerals, including those that are rated as rare; Nickel and lithium are considered of critical importance to the American national economy and defense. Ukraine has large deposits of uranium, lithium and titanium. However, Secretary Rubio explained that reaching an agreement on Ukraine's minerals is not the main purpose of the talks being held today (Tuesday).

“There are still some details to be clarified. We want to sign an agreement and it takes time for this, ”said Mr. Rubio. “I would not prejudge the result of meeting whether we have a mineral agreement or not. This is an important issue, but it is not the main topic of the meeting, ”Secretary Rubio added.

He welcomed the constructive role of France and Britain on talks with Ukraine. Secretary Rubio told Voice of America that no role for China in maintaining peace and reconstruction of Ukraine has been discussed. This is the second visit of Secretary Rubio to Saudi Arabia. He and other senior United States officials met with a Russian delegation in Riyadh on February 18th. He will go to Canada on Wednesday to attend the meeting of the foreign ministers of the seven most developed countries in the world. Vo