High-Level Discussions in Saudi Arabia
In a significant diplomatic move, the United States and Russia met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Notably, Ukraine was not part of the talks, a fact that has drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials. According to the U.S. State Department, the discussions aimed to find a path toward an “enduring peace” to the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and followed years of aggression since 2014.
Progress Toward Normalization and Peace
The talks, which lasted around five hours, marked the first senior-level engagement between Washington and Moscow since President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Geneva before the war began. The U.S. delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Representing Russia were Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce called the meeting “an important step forward,” emphasizing that both sides agreed to establish a “consultation mechanism to address irritants” in their diplomatic relationship. Rubio confirmed to the Associated Press that this effort includes restoring embassy staffing.
Additionally, Bruce noted that high-level teams would begin working on a plan to “end the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides.” She also highlighted discussions on future cooperation in areas of “geopolitical interest and economic opportunities” that could emerge from a successful resolution to the war.
Ukraine’s Strong Opposition
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Turkey at the time, expressed frustration over being excluded from the negotiations. “Again, about Ukraine without Ukraine,” he said. “If Ukraine didn’t yield to ultimatums in the most difficult moment, where does the feeling come from that Ukraine will agree to this now?” Zelenskyy firmly reiterated that he has never and will never yield to Russia’s demands.
Zelenskyy also declared that Ukraine “cannot acknowledge any … agreements about us without us, and will not recognize such agreements.” His comments reflect Ukraine’s longstanding position that any negotiations about its future must include its representatives.
Putin, Trump, and Future Talks
Ahead of the U.S.-Russia meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump spoke, raising speculation about renewed diplomatic efforts. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later stated that Putin is open to negotiations with Zelenskyy, though he once again questioned the Ukrainian president’s legitimacy due to Ukraine’s delayed elections under martial law.
According to Bruce, the Biden administration saw the Riyadh meeting as a “second step to determine if the Russians perhaps are serious, and if they’re on the same page” about ending the conflict.
European Leaders Respond
French President Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting of European leaders in Paris on Monday, just before the U.S.-Russia talks. Macron also spoke with Trump for nearly 30 minutes, discussing Ukraine and the upcoming negotiations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who attended the Paris meeting, suggested that the UK could contribute troops to a peacekeeping mission if a deal is reached. “If there is a peace deal, and everybody wants a peace deal, then it’s got to be a lasting peace deal, not just a pause for Putin to come again,” Starmer said.
The ongoing diplomatic efforts signal a potential shift in the approach to resolving the war, but without Ukraine’s direct involvement, the viability of any proposed agreement remains uncertain.
Keep up with the Russia-Ukraine war with us on Que Onda Magazine.
