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Senior American and Ukrainian officials are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss efforts to reach a ceasefire with Russia, two sources with knowledge of the meeting said.
Why this meeting matters: It will be the first high-level meeting between the countries since the public spat between President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week.
The clash led to an unprecedented crisis between the US and Ukraine and the suspension of US arms deliveries and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
The meeting in Saudi Arabia follows a similar meeting that U.S. officials held with their Russian counterparts in Riyadh two weeks ago. That meeting created anxiety and anger among Ukrainian leaders who were upset that they were not invited to attend and heard about the meeting through media reports.
The upcoming meeting was planned Wednesday during a phone call between White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, a source said.
The meeting is expected to take place in Riyadh with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to join Waltz, the two sources said. Yermak will lead the Ukrainian delegation.
According to a Ukrainian official, Zelensky is expected to visit Saudi Arabia next Monday and Tuesday and meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Witkoff confirmed in a White House press conference on Thursday that the meeting will take place in Saudi Arabia and said it will focus on getting an initial ceasefire and a framework for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Witkoff said Trump saw Zelensky's letter as a good first step - there was an apology and recognition that the US has done so much for Ukraine and a sense of gratitude.
Zelensky said in Brussels on Thursday that Ukraine and the US "have resumed work" and expressed hope that a meaningful meeting would take place next week.
Ukrainian officials say they are still ready to sign the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal that Zelensky and Trump were supposed to sign on Friday but was suspended after their meeting in the Oval Office.
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