In a significant geopolitical development, Russian and American officials convened in Saudi Arabia for discussions aimed at setting the stage for potential peace negotiations to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meeting, held in Riyadh, sought to address the complexities of the war that has persisted for several years. Both Ukraine and Russia have ruled out territorial concessions, yet the talks mark a critical step toward exploring avenues for peace.
Calls for increased defense spending resonated throughout the summit. European leaders, meeting in Paris, have urged for a substantial boost in defense budgets to counter potential threats. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for a US "backstop" to support a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, stressing the importance of American involvement in maintaining regional security.
The discussions in Riyadh are a follow-up to initial conversations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump. Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the US State Department, confirmed this continuity. The Kremlin indicated that the talks would cover the broader spectrum of Russian-American relations and prepare for potential negotiations about Ukraine's future.
“We came to negotiate with American colleagues,” said Yuri Ushakov, highlighting the bilateral nature of these talks.
“These are bilateral talks, purely bilateral. There can be no trilateral talks in Riyadh,” Ushakov reiterated, underlining the exclusivity of the dialogue.
The financial markets responded positively to the anticipation of these talks. S&P 500 futures rose by 0.2%, while European futures increased by 0.1%, reflecting optimism driven by expectations of enhanced defense spending. European futures even reached record peaks on Tuesday as defense stocks soared.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, both Ukraine and Russia remain firm on their territorial stances. Last year, Putin demanded further troop withdrawals from Kyiv, a proposition that has been firmly rejected by Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed any possibility of deploying American troops to Ukraine, focusing instead on diplomatic avenues.
Relations between Russia and the United States entered a new phase just a month after Donald Trump assumed office. The previous US administration under President Joe Biden had limited public engagement with Russia, concluding that Russia was not committed to ending the conflict. However, the current administration appears more inclined towards direct dialogue.
“We are now at Trump time, which means I get an assignment today and tomorrow at noon he asks me why it hasn’t been done yet,” Keith Kellogg remarked, illustrating the urgency characterizing these discussions.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, has been actively engaging with international leaders to garner support. His recent travels to Turkey and Saudi Arabia included discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other key figures regarding the conflict.
“I told him the Americans should be a part of this, because otherwise we might lose our unity,” Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing the necessity of US involvement.
“We cannot recognise any things or any agreements about us without us,” Zelenskyy asserted, underscoring Ukraine's insistence on being included in negotiations concerning its future.
The challenges facing these talks are immense. While initial steps towards dialogue have been made, achieving a comprehensive peace agreement requires navigating complex geopolitical interests and historical grievances.
“But what they want – just a ceasefire – is not a win,” Zelenskyy commented, indicating that Ukraine seeks a more definitive resolution beyond temporary ceasefires.
“We will not sign just anything in order to be applauded … the fate of our state for generations to come [is at stake],” he added, stressing the long-term implications of any agreement reached.
“There will definitely not be a Ukrainian victory without US support,” Zelenskyy concluded, reinforcing the critical role of American backing in Ukraine's pursuit of peace.