US, Russia to meet in S Arabia over Ukraine war

MUNICH, Feb 16 (Reuters): US and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to start talks aimed at ending Moscow's nearly three-year war in Ukraine, a US lawmaker and a source familiar with the planning said on Saturday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who met with US Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday, said Ukraine was not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia and Kyiv would not engage with Russia before consulting with strategic partners.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Saudi Arabia, US Representative Michael McCaul told Reuters. It was not immediately clear who they would meet from Russia.

On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, McCaul said the aim of the talks was to arrange a meeting between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky "to finally bring peace and end this conflict."

A source with knowledge of the plans confirmed the planned talks in Saudi Arabia between US and Russian officials. The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump, who took office on January 20, has repeatedly vowed to swiftly end the Ukraine war. He made separate phone calls to Putin and Zelensky on Wednesday, leaving Washington's European allies alarmed that they will be cut out of any peace process.