The negotiation teams of Trump and Putin meet directly, signaling the groundwork for a significant advancement.
U.S. and Russian representatives gather in Riyadh to consider a possible resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously emphasized that Kyiv would not endorse any discussions lacking Ukrainian participation. The question remains: can those in need afford to be selective?
On Tuesday, senior officials from the United States and Russia convened at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss their bilateral relations and explore avenues for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
The U.S. delegation was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff joining him.
Heading the Russian side was Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, accompanied by Kremlin foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov.
Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Musaed al Alban, participated in the initial segment of the discussions before departing.
The talks took place without representatives from Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously indicated that Kyiv would not endorse any outcomes from the discussions that excluded Ukrainian officials.
Russian representatives confirmed that the talks were intended to be strictly bilateral.
This meeting signifies a rise in high-level interactions between the United States and Russia nearly three years into the Ukraine conflict, during which the bilateral relationship had considerably deteriorated.
Prior interactions included a brief exchange between Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a G-20 meeting in India around two years ago, as well as discussions between U.S. and Russian intelligence officials in Turkey in the autumn of 2022.
In related comments, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, underlined the necessity of strong U.S.-Russia relations for addressing global issues.
International reactions to the recent discussions have featured calls from European leaders for a more inclusive approach that incorporates Ukrainian viewpoints, prompting France to organize an emergency meeting of European Union nations and the United Kingdom.
French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated the urgency of ending hostilities and providing security guarantees for Ukraine.
The Riyadh meeting follows a series of diplomatic engagements and symbolizes the ongoing attempts by U.S. and Russian officials to identify solutions to the conflict.
All developments are being closely observed by international stakeholders.
The U.S. delegation was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff joining him.
Heading the Russian side was Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, accompanied by Kremlin foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov.
Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Musaed al Alban, participated in the initial segment of the discussions before departing.
The talks took place without representatives from Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously indicated that Kyiv would not endorse any outcomes from the discussions that excluded Ukrainian officials.
Russian representatives confirmed that the talks were intended to be strictly bilateral.
This meeting signifies a rise in high-level interactions between the United States and Russia nearly three years into the Ukraine conflict, during which the bilateral relationship had considerably deteriorated.
Prior interactions included a brief exchange between Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a G-20 meeting in India around two years ago, as well as discussions between U.S. and Russian intelligence officials in Turkey in the autumn of 2022.
In related comments, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, underlined the necessity of strong U.S.-Russia relations for addressing global issues.
International reactions to the recent discussions have featured calls from European leaders for a more inclusive approach that incorporates Ukrainian viewpoints, prompting France to organize an emergency meeting of European Union nations and the United Kingdom.
French President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated the urgency of ending hostilities and providing security guarantees for Ukraine.
The Riyadh meeting follows a series of diplomatic engagements and symbolizes the ongoing attempts by U.S. and Russian officials to identify solutions to the conflict.
All developments are being closely observed by international stakeholders.
