KEY POINTS
- Talks between the US and Russia are underway in Riyadh to discuss the Ukraine war.
- Ukraine warns no agreements can be made on its behalf without its direct involvement in talks.
- Moscow reiterates opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership.
- EU leaders express unease over US-Russia talks.
- The talks agenda includes prospects of a direct meeting between Trump and Putin.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: The United States and Russia have begun high-level talks in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Ukraine war, marking the first diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow since the war started in February 2022.
The talks, held at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, are seen as a potential turning point in efforts to end the prolonged conflict, though expectations of a breakthrough remain low.
The US delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Russian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban are also attending the talks as hosts.
The meeting signals a departure from the stance of former US President Joe Biden’s administration, which had avoided direct diplomatic engagement with Russia, arguing that Moscow was not serious about ending the war.
However, President Donald Trump, after returning to the White House on January 20, adopted a more proactive approach and initiated discussions with Russia that could lead to further negotiations and a possible summit between Trump and Putin.
Despite the diplomatic overture, Ukraine has reiterated that it was not invited to the talks and warned that no agreements can be made on its behalf without its direct involvement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed the need for security guarantees and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, stating that Kyiv “will never, under any circumstances, recognise our temporarily occupied territories as part of Russia.”
Russia’s position on NATO
Ahead of the talks, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reaffirmed Moscow’s opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership, stating that merely rejecting Kyiv’s accession to the alliance would not be sufficient.
“It is worth noting that a refusal to accept Kyiv into NATO is not enough,” Zakharova said. “The alliance must disavow the Bucharest promises of 2008.”
The 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest had declared that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually join the alliance, although no concrete pathway was provided.
Russia has long viewed NATO’s eastward expansion as a threat to its security and has called for broader negotiations on European security.
Concerns among European allies
The Riyadh talks have caused unease among European allies, many of whom were caught off guard by Washington’s decision to engage with Moscow. European leaders gathered in Paris on Monday for emergency discussions on how to respond to the US initiative.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Europe has contributed more to Ukraine “financially and militarily” than any other actor.
“We want to partner with the US to deliver a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. Now is a critical moment,” she wrote on social media platform X.
Important discussion with @generalkellogg on Ukraine.
Financially and militarily, Europe has brought more to the table than anyone else. And we will step up.
We want to partner with the US to deliver a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
Now is a critical moment.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 18, 2025
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof stressed the need for a strong and unified response. “At this crucial time for the security of Europe, we must continue to stand behind Ukraine,” he said.
Trump-Putin summit
A key agenda item for the Riyadh talks is the potential for a direct meeting between Trump and Putin, a prospect that has drawn mixed reactions globally.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that discussions on “the entire complex of Russian-American relations” were underway, with the possibility of arranging a summit between the two presidents.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a key figure in previous Moscow-Washington negotiations, expressed optimism about future diplomatic progress.
“We have a series of proposals, which our colleagues are thinking about,” Dmitriev told Russian state media, suggesting that developments could occur within the next two to three months.
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Economic discussions also feature prominently in the talks. Dmitriev highlighted the financial consequences of Western sanctions on Russia, noting that US businesses had lost approximately $300 billion from withdrawing from the Russian market.
“There is a huge economic toll on many countries due to what’s happening right now, and we believe the way forward is through solutions,” he said.
China’s response
China has welcomed the negotiations, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stating that Beijing supports “efforts towards peace” in Ukraine while urging broader international participation in discussions.
Despite the diplomatic engagement, the path to a resolution remains fraught with obstacles. Ukraine continues to demand a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from its territory, a position that Moscow has repeatedly rejected.
Lavrov has indicated that Russia seeks broader security discussions with Washington rather than focusing solely on Ukraine.
Speaking on the Riyadh meeting, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce cautioned against overestimating its immediate impact.
“This is a follow-up on that initial conversation between Putin and President Trump about perhaps if that first step is even possible, what the interests are, if this can be managed,” she said.
