Ukraine-Russia war latest: Key US-led peace talks begin after three killed in major drone attack on Moscow
Critical talks between Ukraine and the US have begun in Saudi Arabia, the first meeting between the two sides since the disastrous White House clash between Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky last month.
The head of Ukraine’s peace delegation, Andriy Yermak, has already said the talks started “very constructively”. The UK has been advising Ukraine on how to use the talks to mend ties with Mr Trump.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz are sitting down with Mr Yermak, a top Zelensky aide, as well as the Ukrainian foreign and defence ministers, and Mr Yermak’s deputy. However, Mr Zelensky, who was in Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will not join the talks.
Reports on Tuesday morning also claimed that Mr Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, will head to Moscow later this week to meet Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin claimed this morning that the US would inform them of the results of the talks with Ukraine. Mr Witkoff was due to attend the talks with Ukraine today but has not been pictured at the meeting.
Meanwhile, Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Moscow, killing three people, sparking fires, closing airports and forcing dozens of flights to be diverted, Russian officials said.
