In a significant diplomatic development, top officials from the United States and Russia gathered in Saudi Arabia’s capital for groundbreaking talks aimed at improving bilateral relations and seeking an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The high-stakes meeting, hosted at Riyadh’s Diriyah Palace, marks a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Russia and could reshape the dynamics of international diplomacy.
High-level diplomatic engagement
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met face-to-face, accompanied by their respective delegations. The U.S. team included national security adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Lavrov was joined by Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov. Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and national security adviser Musaed al Alban, briefly participated in the initial discussions.
Ukraine’s exclusion raises concerns
The bilateral nature of the talks has sparked controversy, as Ukrainian officials were not invited to participate. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already expressed his opposition, stating that Ukraine would not accept any outcomes from negotiations where Kyiv is not represented. This development has prompted emergency consultations among European allies, with France calling for an urgent meeting of EU countries and the UK to coordinate their response.
Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic role
The choice of Saudi Arabia as the meeting venue highlights Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s growing influence in international diplomacy. The kingdom has previously facilitated prisoner negotiations and hosted Ukrainian President Zelenskyy during an Arab League summit in 2023. This diplomatic initiative helps rehabilitate Prince Mohammed’s international image, which was damaged following the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Broader implications
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, emphasized the meeting’s significance, stating, “Good U.S.-Russia relations are very important for the whole world. Only jointly can Russia and the U.S. address lots of world problems, resolve for global conflicts and offer solutions.” The talks represent the most substantial U.S.-Russian contact since relations deteriorated to their lowest point in decades following the outbreak of the Ukraine war.
The meeting follows President Trump’s recent announcement of an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin negotiations on ending the Ukraine conflict, marking a significant departure from previous U.S. policy. This diplomatic initiative comes almost two years after the last brief interaction between Lavrov and then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a G-20 meeting in India.
