US, Ukrainian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia next week: Trump's adviser

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - An American delegation will head to Saudi Arabia next week to meet Ukrainians to discuss a potential peace deal, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said Friday.

"Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio, myself and Ukrainian delegation will be meeting in Saudi Arabia next week to get these talks back on track, get the ceasefire in place, and drive peace home," Waltz told the reporters in the Oval Office, along with President Donald Trump.

Waltz said Trump has been "crystal clear" to all sides that the fighting has to stop.

"We will engage in the shuttle diplomacy, and we will continue to use his leadership and what leverage we have to get both sides of the peace table. It's not going to be easy," he added.

Waltz also announced that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will be coming to the US next week.

Last month, Russian and US officials met in Riyadh, their first high-level talks since the Ukraine war in 2022, to lay the groundwork for peace talks and improve bilateral relations.