US-Russia peace talks take place in Saudi Arabia
The US and Russia held talks on the war in Ukraine on February 18th in Saudi Arabia, with a Saudi official confirming the kingdom would play a mediation role.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz traveled to Saudi Arabia for the talks, according to CNN.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on February 16th that he was “ready and willing” to deploy British troops to Ukraine to enforce a peace deal if needed. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he argued that solidifying Ukraine’s security would also improve the security of the UK and Europe. He urged European nations to increase defence spending and assume a larger role in NATO, while emphasising that US support remains vital.
On February 17th, he attended an emergency summit on Ukraine in Paris. Leaders from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, along with as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as well as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, were present at the meeting. The meeting was convened by French President Emmanuel Macron.
“We cannot allow any divisions in the alliance to distract from the external enemies we face,” Starmer said on February 15th, calling the European meeting a “once in a generation” moment for security.
Trump has openly discussed Saudi Arabia’s role in the negotiations. Two weeks ago, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman helped secure Marc Fogel’s release in Russia.
CNN, ITV, Foreign Policy
