Despite the rift between Trump and Zelenskyy, U.S. and Russian officials have agreed to appoint high-level teams to work toward a resolution to the conflict. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who participated in the talks, emphasized the urgency of ending the war during the White House press briefing Thursday.
“President Trump has been very clear: he intends to bring this war to an end,” Waltz said. “All sides need to be brought into that.”
The talks, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marked the first significant engagement between the U.S. and Russia in nearly three years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the discussions as a “positive first step” but acknowledged that significant challenges remain.
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“How this turns out will be up to the parties and their willingness not just to make commitments but to live by them,” Rubio said.
Waltz also addressed the need for constructive dialogue between the U.S. and Ukraine, particularly regarding the financial and strategic support provided by American taxpayers. He highlighted a recent offer by the U.S. to co-invest in Ukraine’s mineral resources, which could help rebuild the country’s economy and provide long-term security.
“There needs to be a deep appreciation for what the American people, the American taxpayer, and President Trump have done,” Waltz said Thursday. “Rather than enter into constructive conversations, we got a lot of rhetoric in the media that was incredibly unfortunate.”
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Waltz, a combat veteran, underscored the horrific toll the war has taken on both sides. “This war is horrific, and I think we’ve lost sight of that—of the literally thousands of people that are dying a day, families that are going without the next generation,” he said.
He also criticized the double standard of those in Washington who demand a ceasefire in Gaza but oppose efforts to end the war in Ukraine. “A war that has been arguably far greater in scope and scale and far more dangerous in terms of global escalation to U.S. security,” Waltz added.
For now, the focus remains on finding a path to peace that addresses the realities on the ground and the interests of all parties involved.
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