WASHINGTON, February 17. /TASS/. The US administration would like to involve Vladimir Zelensky in the talks between Washington and Moscow on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, President Donald Trump told the White House press pool.
"He will be involved. Yes," he said briefly when asked if Zelensky would be involved in these consultations.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with the CBS TV channel that the US and Russia had not yet begun formal talks to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, while the two presidents had a telephone conversation in which both sides expressed interest in ending this conflict. However, he later said that once the peace process begins, the US would like to involve Kiev and Europe in it.
Bloomberg reported earlier, citing sources, that a meeting between senior US and Russian officials could take place next week in Saudi Arabia. It is said to be aimed at preparing possible talks between the leaders of the two countries. According to the news agency, Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Whitkoff will play the leading role in the American delegation.
On February 12, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump held a telephone conversation. They discussed the issue of cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, bilateral relations and a number of other issues. They also agreed to continue contacts and organize a face-to-face meeting. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the phone conversation between the two leaders was "constructive, working, friendly.".