In a significant diplomatic development, top U.S. and Russian diplomats convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss the foundation for peace talks aimed at ending the three-year war in Ukraine. This meeting marks the first formal sit-down between the two nations' top envoys since January 2022. Notably absent from these discussions are Ukrainian officials and European allies, who remain excluded from this stage of negotiations. The talks underscore a broader effort to restore bilateral relations between the U.S. and Russia amidst the ongoing conflict.
The high-profile meeting comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to initiate negotiations to end hostilities in Ukraine. Despite this step towards dialogue, concerns from European leaders persist, particularly from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who deemed the timing "completely premature" and "highly inappropriate." Nevertheless, both the U.S. and Russia remain committed to seeking a strong and lasting peace in the region.
U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz represent the United States at the Riyadh talks, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is accompanied by Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov. The discussions aim at laying the groundwork for potential peace talks, with a future meeting between President Trump and President Putin also on the agenda. However, no plans exist for a private meeting between Rubio and Lavrov during this session.
The meeting proceeds amid economic tensions as well. Kirill Dmitriev highlighted the substantial economic impact of the ongoing conflict, stating:
"U.S. businesses lost around $300 billion from leaving Russia. So there is huge economic toll on many countries from you know what's happening right now, and we believe as a way forward is through solutions," – Dmitriev
European nations have expressed mixed reactions to the unfolding peace efforts. The U.K. has indicated its willingness to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, contingent upon U.S. support to backstop such a deployment. Similarly, Denmark and France have shown openness to considering troop contributions to the peacekeeping mission.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for a robust approach to ensure lasting peace:
"We seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine. To achieve this, Russia must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians. Otherwise, there is a risk that this ceasefire will end up like the Minsk agreements. We will work on this together with all Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians. This is the key," – Emmanuel Macron
As the talks unfold in Riyadh, European allies remain on the sidelines, with speculation mounting over their eventual involvement in future negotiations. The exclusion of European voices at this stage has raised eyebrows among EU leaders who stress the importance of a collective approach to resolving the conflict.