Thu Feb 20 12:10:02 UTC 2025: ## Trump Claims Russia Holds “Cards” in Ukraine Peace Talks Amidst US-Russia Discussions
**Jeddah, Saudi Arabia/Florida, USA –** Former US President Donald Trump has asserted that Russia holds the advantage in ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations, citing Russia’s territorial gains in the conflict. His comments follow a meeting between US and Russian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on February 18th, which notably excluded Ukrainian representatives.
Trump stated that Russia “has the cards a little bit, because they’ve taken a lot of territory,” adding his belief that Russia desires an end to the war. This meeting, according to the Associated Press, marks a renewed effort by the US and Russia to find a path towards peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reacting to his country’s exclusion from the Saudi Arabia talks, postponed a planned visit and publicly rebuked Trump’s assessment, accusing him of operating within a “disinformation space.”
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia’s willingness to continue talks with the US on all aspects of the conflict, echoing the American administration’s call for swift peace negotiations. The absence of Ukraine from the initial US-Russia talks underscores the complex dynamics and differing perspectives surrounding the ongoing conflict.
First Piper 