Top diplomats from the United States and Russia met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday for talks aimed at resetting strained relations—the first high-level engagement between both nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting, held at Diriyah Palace, saw US Secretary of State Marco Rubio face off against Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with no public statements or handshakes exchanged. Also present were US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, senior Russian aide Yuri Ushakov, and Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Ukraine, Europe Express Concern
The talks have sparked concerns in Ukraine and across Europe, especially after recent overtures from the Trump administration toward Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was not invited to the discussions and criticized any negotiations held without Ukraine’s participation.
Meanwhile, European leaders convened in Paris for emergency talks on how to respond to Washington’s latest diplomatic moves. The Kremlin reiterated that a lasting settlement in Ukraine would require addressing broader European security concerns, stressing that Ukraine had the right to join the European Union but opposing its NATO membership.
Possible Trump-Putin Summit on the Horizon
Discussions in Riyadh are also expected to lay the groundwork for a potential summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both leaders are reportedly keen to mend what Russia has termed “abnormal relations” with the US.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin remains open to engaging with Zelensky “if necessary” but emphasized that bilateral talks with the US would focus on a wide range of security issues beyond Ukraine.
Russia’s economic negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, expressed optimism, suggesting progress could be seen within months. However, US officials have downplayed expectations of any immediate breakthroughs.
Europe Sidelined as Saudi Arabia Hosts Talks
The choice of Saudi Arabia as the meeting venue reflects shifting geopolitical dynamics, as traditional European hosts for US-Russia dialogues are no longer viable. Analysts believe Riyadh’s role signals a broader diplomatic realignment, given Moscow’s battlefield gains and the uncertainty surrounding continued US military aid to Ukraine under Trump.
As the diplomatic chess game unfolds, the world watches closely for signs of whether this meeting will pave the way for peace—or deepen divisions further.
