World
US officials heading to Saudi Arabia for Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Two senior US officials are travelling to Saudi Arabia to initiate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Two sources familiar with the matter told Sky News’ US partner network NBC News that national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff are on their way to Saudi.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said there had been an agreement to begin negotiations about ending the war in Ukraine, after holding phone calls with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Analysis: Peace talks risk short-term win that rewards Putin
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Zelenskyy warns against the ‘danger’ of the Russian army
The Ukrainian president alluded to the conversations at a security conference in Munich on Saturday, suggesting Europe should play a role in the negotiations as well.
“Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement, and the same rule should apply to all of Europe,” Mr Zelenskyy said.
“A few days ago, President Trump told me about his conversation with Putin. Not once did he mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot.”
However, on Saturday night, Mr Trump’s Ukraine envoy said Europe would not have a seat at the table for Ukraine peace talks.
Earlier, Washington sent a questionnaire to European capitals to ask what they could contribute to security
guarantees for Kyiv.
“The old days are over when America supported Europe just because it always had,” said Mr Zelenskyy.
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‘We need a European army’
He told world leaders it is time for the creation of an “armed forces of Europe”, adding his army was “not enough”.
Following his call with President Putin, Mr Trump posted on Truth Social saying: “We both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine.”
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‘Unlikely’ Ukraine gets old borders back
Mr Trump had told White House reporters he did not see any way “that a country in Russia’s position” could allow Ukraine to join NATO and that it was unlikely Ukraine would get all of its occupied land back.
Mr Zelenskyy said the main issue was to “not allow everything to go according to Putin’s plan”.
It comes after UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told Mr Zelenskyy in recent days that Ukraine was still on an “irreversible path” to joining NATO.