In a significant diplomatic development, top US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia on February 18, 2025, for talks aimed at resetting their strained relationship. This is the first such meeting since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it has raised concerns in Ukraine and Europe, especially with the absence of Ukraine from the discussions.
The meeting took place at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were seen in discussions. The talks also included US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, as well as Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and national security adviser Musaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his disappointment over Ukraine’s exclusion from the talks, stating, “We cannot recognise any things or any agreements about us without us.”
The meeting, which both sides downplayed in terms of expectations for immediate results, was aimed at addressing a range of issues, including the possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The US has been pushing for a swift resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, while Russia sees the talks as an opportunity to gain concessions.
The Kremlin highlighted that any lasting resolution to the conflict in Ukraine is impossible without addressing broader security issues in Europe. Russia also voiced its opposition to Ukraine joining NATO, despite acknowledging Ukraine’s sovereign right to pursue EU membership.
Zelensky, who was in Turkey at the time of the talks, mentioned he would only meet with Putin after Kyiv and its allies had a common position on how to end the war. Meanwhile, Russian officials stated that the meeting’s focus would be on restoring broader Russian-American relations, with a particular emphasis on security issues and potential negotiations regarding Ukraine.
As European leaders gathered in Paris for emergency talks on the situation, Russia’s Lavrov dismissed the possibility of Europe being part of any discussions on Ukraine’s future. He further stressed that Europe’s participation was “not an option.”
The Riyadh talks have sparked significant concern, with analysts noting that the venue’s significance highlights a shift in diplomatic strategies. “Europe’s the traditional meeting place for the Americans and the Russians, but that’s not an option in the current environment,” said James Dorsey, a senior fellow at the National University of Singapore.
The US and Russia remain deeply divided on the issue of Ukraine, and it remains uncertain whether the Riyadh talks will lead to any meaningful agreements or contribute to ending the three-year-long conflict.
