USA and Ukraine poised for breakthrough in Riyadh talks
Steve Witkoff, the White House Special Envoy for the Middle East, said on Monday that he hopes a resource agreement with Ukraine will be reached this week. He added that he expects positive results from Tuesday's talks with the Kyiv delegation.
On Tuesday, representatives from the USA and Ukraine will meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting will take place at the same location and in a similar format to the meetings between the USA and Russian delegations in February. The Russian side will not participate in the talks.
The US delegation will include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Steve Witkoff. However, the special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellog, will not be present. The Ukrainian side will be represented by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha, the President's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, and Deputy Chief of Staff Pawlo Palisa.
Witkoff announced in an interview with Fox News that the issue of providing Ukraine with American intelligence data will be discussed at the meeting this week. He also stated that the USA has never suspended intelligence cooperation with Ukraine in its "defencive purposes."
Trump expects "significant progress"
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States has "almost" ended the suspension of intelligence information exchange with Ukraine and expects positive results from the talks between the US and Ukrainian delegations that will take place on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. As reported by Reuters, when asked aboard Air Force One, returning from Florida to Washington, whether he is considering ending the suspension of intelligence support for Ukraine, Trump said, "We almost have."
The American president also stated that he is optimistic about the talks between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha. - We're going to make a lot of progress, I believe, this week, - said Trump, expressing confidence that Kyiv will sign an agreement with the USA regarding the exploitation of Ukrainian mineral resources. - They will sign the minerals deal but I want them to want peace... They haven't shown it to extent they should - emphasised Trump.
