Photo credit: www.cbsnews.com
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — High-ranking officials from both Russia and the United States convened in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to initiate discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral relations and exploring avenues for concluding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The delegations included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who met at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh. This meeting signifies a critical shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Russia, moving away from previous strategies that sought to isolate Moscow. It is also designed to set the stage for a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Earlier this month, President Trump made headlines by announcing an agreement with Putin to enter negotiations aimed at ending the war—an unexpected pivot that could reshape international dynamics.
Significantly, Ukrainian officials were not part of these talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concerns, stating that his nation would not accept any outcomes from the negotiations if Ukraine is excluded.
Accompanying Secretary Rubio were U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Lavrov was supported by Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov. The Saudi delegation featured Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Adviser Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, who were expected to exit early in the discussions.
Ushakov had previously indicated that the talks would be “purely bilateral,” excluding Ukrainian representatives. This meeting represents a notable increase in U.S.-Russia interactions nearly three years into the war, a period during which bilateral relations have plummeted to historic lows.
Prior engagements between Lavrov and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken were brief and limited, taking place on the sidelines of a G-20 meeting in India nearly two years ago. Additionally, discussions between U.S. and Russian intelligence leaders occurred in Turkey in the fall of 2022, addressing concerns over potential nuclear risks amid battlefield struggles.
European Nations Respond
As the U.S. embarks on this new diplomatic initiative concerning the war, Kyiv and its allies are racing to ensure their interests are represented amidst fears that the U.S. and Russia may strike a deal circumventing them.
In response, France called an emergency meeting involving European Union member states and the U.K. French President Emmanuel Macron communicated with both President Trump and President Zelenskyy to strategize post-meeting. Macron expressed a commitment to a sustainable peace in Ukraine, emphasizing the necessity for Russia to cease its aggression and for robust security assurances to be established for Ukraine.
Moreover, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated the possibility of British troop deployment to Ukraine for peacekeeping purposes, a stance echoed by Swedish officials. However, while some European leaders remain cautious about troop commitments, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk opposed sending Polish forces to Ukraine but called for increased European defense spending.
Tusk warned, “If we, Europeans, fail to spend big on defense now, we will be forced to spend 10 times more if we don’t prevent a wider war,” underscoring the urgency of increased defense investment in light of ongoing conflicts.
Saudi Arabia’s Role as a Mediator
Ahead of the Riyadh meetings, Kirill Dmitriev of the Russian Direct Investment Fund highlighted the crucial nature of U.S.-Russia relations, stating that global challenges can only be effectively tackled through collaboration between these two powers.
The Saudi-owned news outlet Al Arabiya relayed that Moscow views the discussions as an opportunity for “real normalization with Washington.” The Diriyah Palace, strategically located near the Ritz Carlton—a site notable for the kingdom’s past anti-corruption purges—served as the backdrop for these talks.
Hosting these negotiations is a significant ambition of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has endeavored to place Saudi Arabia at the center of diplomatic efforts throughout the war. The kingdom has previously facilitated prisoner exchanges and hosted President Zelenskyy during an Arab League summit in 2023. There are indications that Zelenskyy may visit Saudi Arabia soon.
For Prince Mohammed, previously labeled a “pariah” by former President Joe Biden, orchestrating such diplomatic encounters enhances his international reputation. Ahead of the summit, the Saudi newspaper Okaz emphasized the global significance of Riyadh’s hosting of these talks.
Journalist Mishari al-Dhaidi remarked in Asharq Al Awsat that the summit symbolizes a significant shift in the international political landscape, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s influential role for global stability.
Additionally, the Saudi leadership has maintained ties with Russia through various platforms, such as the OPEC+ oil alliance, while simultaneously facing criticism regarding Trump’s controversial remarks about the Gaza Strip, framed within the context of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Source
www.cbsnews.com