 "US, Russia begin Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia; Europe flags Kyiv’s omission")
Top Russian and American officials met in Riyadh on Tuesday to hold talks on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and boosting bilateral ties, news agency Reuters reported. Meanwhile, Ukraine is not part of the engagement, which aims to end Kyiv’s ongoing conflict with Moscow and secure a peace.
The Russian delegation, comprising Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Upon the directives of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is hosting talks between the Russian Federation and the United States of America today, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, in Riyadh. This initiative… pic.twitter.com/CY7wT7nlLF
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) February 18, 2025
The meeting, which comes three years after Ukraine’s invasion, is set to be a crucial one due to the involvement of the US in securing a peace deal.
Earlier, both the US Department of State and the Kremlin said on Monday that senior US and Russian officials would hold talks in Riyadh in an effort to lay the groundwork for peace negotiations.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy adviser Ushakov would travel to Riyadh to engage in possible peace negotiations.
These negotiations follow a recent phone call between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin. During the phone call both parties agreed to initiate immediate pace talks.
Europe, Kyiv not invited
Notably, both Ukraine and the European Union are not participating in the discussions.
The European leaders emphasised the necessity for their involvement in any negotiations to ensure a fair and lasting peace. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that a US security guarantee is essential for lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.
From Isolating Moscow to hosting meeting in Riyadh
The talks are symbolic, as after President Donald Trump took office, Washington has changed its stance on the policy of isolating Russia following the Kremlin’s campaign against Kyiv.
The discussion is also set to pave the way for a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russia’s Putin.
Meanwhile, Kyiv has not been invited to the talks between Washington and Moscow aimed at ending its war with Russia.
Delegation is made up of ‘serious people’: Russia
Putin’s foreign policy adviser Ushakov said that the talks would be “purely bilateral” and would not include Ukrainian officials. He also stated that the delegation is made up of “serious people” and that Russia “came with a serious approach too,” Russian state TV reported.
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