US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced Thursday that he will meet with a Ukrainian delegation next week in Saudi Arabia to discuss a ceasefire with Russia.
"We are coordinating a meeting with the Ukrainians in Riyadh or possibly Jeddah," Witkoff told reporters. "The goal is to establish a framework for a peace agreement and an initial ceasefire."
Witkoff noted that President Donald Trump was pleased with a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following their tense exchange at the White House last Friday.
"I believe Trump saw Zelensky's letter as a positive first step—it included apologies, recognition of US support for Ukraine, and a sense of gratitude," Witkoff said.
During the meeting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelensky of failing to show sufficient appreciation for the billions of dollars in US military aid since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Zelensky left without signing a mining agreement Trump had pushed regarding Ukraine’s mineral resources.
Asked whether Ukraine might sign the deal during talks in Saudi Arabia, Witkoff said, "I think Zelensky has proposed signing it, and we will see if he follows through."
The upcoming discussions, set for Tuesday in Riyadh, were confirmed by a senior Ukrainian official speaking to AFP. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Zelensky's chief of staff Andriy Yermak and potentially including Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, aims to mend strained ties with Trump’s administration.
Gaza: "A good-faith first step"
Beyond the Ukraine talks, Witkoff also addressed the situation in Gaza, praising Egypt's reconstruction plan as "a good-faith first step."
"It has many compelling aspects. We need to discuss it further, but it's a good-faith first step by the Egyptians," Witkoff told reporters.
He welcomed Trump's ability to "encourage other Middle Eastern actors to present proactive proposals for what we might consider."
On Tuesday, Arab leaders met in Cairo and adopted a plan for rebuilding Gaza, which excludes Hamas and envisions the return of the Palestinian Authority—ousted from the territory by Hamas in 2007.
However, Israel has rejected the plan, insisting that the Palestinian Authority will play no future role in Gaza.
According to Egypt, the plan ensures that Gaza’s residents will remain in their homeland, a direct rebuttal to Trump's proposal, which envisions relocating them to Egypt and Jordan to transform Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East."
In a sharp escalation, Trump issued a "final warning" to Hamas on Wednesday, demanding the release of hostages or risking "death for the people of Gaza." This came on the same day Washington confirmed direct contacts with Hamas.
Witkoff hinted that this threat could lead to joint military action against Hamas.
"I believe there will be action. It could be carried out jointly with the Israelis," he stated.
"It's unclear for now, but I think Hamas has the opportunity to act reasonably, do the right thing, and leave. They will not be part of a future government there," he added.
With AFP.
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