Trust the [non-existing] plan!

The U.S.-Ukraine talks will take place in Saudi Arabia despite no clear pathway toward protecting Kyiv against Putin’s aggressions long-term. Trump has refused to back a European plan to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine until after a cease-fire, while Russia has repeatedly rejected the prospect of foreign forces there. Zelensky insists he wants to sign a peace deal but only under the right conditions.

Other European officials are aghast that the Trump administration doesn’t seem to have a plan for what follows a sit-down meeting. One senior European official said closed-door conversations about Ukraine involve little more than U.S. counterparts assuring allies that Trump is the ultimate dealmaker, and there appears to be no discernible strategic planning beyond that.

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-strong-arms-leaders-to-the-table-getting-them-to-make-a-deal-may-prove-harder-0c1e1ce9