US Envoy Says Jeddah to Host Talks with Russia on Ukraine War on Sunday 

Steve Witkoff, special envoy, watches as President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Steve Witkoff, special envoy, watches as President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
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US Envoy Says Jeddah to Host Talks with Russia on Ukraine War on Sunday 

Steve Witkoff, special envoy, watches as President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Steve Witkoff, special envoy, watches as President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP)

US envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News on Tuesday that talks with Russia on the Ukraine war will take place on Sunday in Jeddah.

"The devil is in the details. We've got a team going to Saudi Arabia, led by our national security adviser and our secretary of state, and I think, you know, we've got to figure out those details," Witkoff told Fox News' "Hannity" show on Tuesday, referring to top US diplomat Marco Rubio and White House national security adviser Mike Waltz.

The Kremlin did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment, outside business hours, on Witkoff's remarks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire that President Donald Trump hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace deal.



Saudi Arabia Hosts Gulf-American Summit on Wednesday

US President Donald Trump is seen at the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh in July 2017. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump is seen at the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh in July 2017. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Hosts Gulf-American Summit on Wednesday

US President Donald Trump is seen at the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh in July 2017. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump is seen at the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh in July 2017. (Reuters)

Riyadh will host on Wednesday a Gulf-American summit as US President Donald Trump kicks off a historic visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

The summit will bring together the US president with his counterparts from the Arab Gulf, an American and two Arab officials told Axios.

“Trump's first official foreign trip reflects the growing importance his administration is placing on economic cooperation and investments between the US and Gulf countries,” said Axios.

“The summit will be a chance for Trump to present his vision for US involvement in the Middle East and lay out his policy objectives in the region,” it added.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz sent on Sunday invitations to the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman to attend the summit.

This will mark the fifth summit between the US and Gulf countries. The first was held in Camp David in May 2015, the second in April 2016, and the third in May 2017 in Riyadh, with Trump attending during his first term as president. The fourth summit was held in July 2022 and included the participation of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

The US State Department had told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump’s visit reflects “without a doubt” Saudi Arabia’s importance and strategic role in the region.

The US sees the Kingdom as a pivotal partner in efforts aimed at achieving regional security and stability, said Samuel Warburg, regional spokesman for the US Department of State.

Washington is once again reaffirming its commitment to working with regional partners to find sustainable political and diplomatic solutions to crises and supporting efforts to restore calm in Gaza, he added.