Introduction
Hi, I’m George Gerbo, and welcome to our weekly discussion where we explore the latest news and events with our reporters.
Joining me today are our National Security Editor, Guy Taylor, and our Threat Status correspondent.
[GERBO] Let’s begin with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He recently met with Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
[TAYLOR] Yes, that meeting has already taken place.
[GERBO] Reports suggest there may be back-channel discussions regarding a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. However, Ukraine hasn’t officially been involved yet. What can you tell us about this?
[TAYLOR] It’s challenging to determine if there’s real momentum for peace talks concerning Ukraine. Just last month, President Trump was promoting a significant meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Hungary, which ultimately got canceled. It seems that every time the Trump administration attempts to push for end-of-war discussions or ceasefire agreements, it falls through.
The latest information indicates that there are secretive back-channel negotiations involving U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian officials regarding a potential end-of-war framework consisting of 28 points. However, this hasn’t been publicly confirmed, and these points appear similar to proposals previously suggested by the Trump administration months ago. Currently, there doesn’t seem to be any agreement from the Ukrainian government or Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy traveled to Turkey recently—an important NATO ally that maintains relations with Russia—to discuss a possible peace plan. However, Russia declined to participate in these discussions. Consequently, Zelenskyy’s visit turned into an effort to gain Erdogan’s support against Russian aggression.
The situation remains uncertain as we await any response from Ukraine regarding this plan and whether the Trump administration will make any public announcements.
A crucial aspect of these leaked back-channel talks involves significant concessions expected from Ukraine, such as ceding the Crimean Peninsula and much of Donbas—territories currently occupied by Russian forces—something unlikely to be accepted by the Ukrainian government.
[GERBO] Another topic you’ve covered is the recent meeting at the White House between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and President Trump. This marks a notable shift in relations considering Saudi Arabia was once viewed as an adversary just two decades ago.
[TAYLOR] Indeed, it was a high-stakes summit on November 17th where MBS is poised to become king of Saudi Arabia eventually. The meeting showcased a strong bond between him and President Trump as they discussed key U.S. interests in stabilizing the Middle East while recognizing Saudi Arabia as a vital partner against Iran.
The summit resulted in MBS reaffirming a strategic security agreement with Trump that included discussions about selling next-generation F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia—a long-desired goal for them aimed at achieving military parity with Israel.
