U.S. and Russia Hold Landmark Talks in Saudi Arabia Over Ukraine Conflict

In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on February 18, 2025, at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This meeting marked the most extensive engagement between the two nations since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The discussions, which lasted approximately four and a half hours, resulted in an agreement to pursue three primary objectives:

1. Restoring staffing levels at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow.
2. Establishing a high-level team to support peace negotiations concerning Ukraine.
3. Exploring avenues for closer economic cooperation.

Secretary Rubio emphasized that these discussions were the beginning of a broader conversation aimed at ending the nearly three-year conflict in Ukraine and improving U.S.-Russia relations. Lavrov described the meeting as "very useful," noting that both sides not only listened but also understood each other's positions.

Notably, Ukrainian officials were absent from these talks. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not accept any outcomes from discussions in which it did not participate and postponed his planned visit to Saudi Arabia. European allies also expressed concerns about being sidelined in these negotiations.

Following the Riyadh meeting, Secretary Rubio and U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff met with European and Ukrainian officials in Paris to promote a U.S.-led peace framework to end the war in Ukraine. The framework received a positive response from European powers and Ukraine, although Russia remains cautious. President Donald Trump seeks a swift resolution and has proposed a minerals and economic cooperation deal with Ukraine as part of the peace initiative.

Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a significant meeting with U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg, which lasted nearly five hours and was described as highly productive by Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. The discussions focused on strengthening Russia-U.S. dialogue amidst ongoing global and media attempts to disrupt communications between the two nations.

The Riyadh meeting signifies a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, reflecting an effort to engage directly with Russia to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and to explore potential improvements in diplomatic and economic relations between the two nations. However, the exclusion of Ukrainian officials from these talks has raised concerns about the legitimacy and inclusivity of the negotiations. European allies have also expressed apprehension about being sidelined, emphasizing the need for a more collaborative approach to resolving the conflict.

As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains attentive to the developments stemming from these diplomatic engagements and their potential impact on the future of the Ukraine conflict.