In a significant diplomatic development, the United States and Russia have announced that their senior representatives will meet in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss potential pathways to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The announcement has raised concerns among European leaders, who feel excluded from the U.S.-led initiative, further highlighting tensions between Western allies over how to handle the war and negotiate with Russia.
This meeting marks a critical moment in international diplomacy, as it will be the first direct engagement between high-ranking officials from Russia and the United States in nearly three years. Given the rising geopolitical stakes, the talks in Riyadh could shape the future of international relations, not only between Washington and Moscow but also for the broader global security landscape.
Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin, described the decision to hold talks between Russian and American representatives in Riyadh as a «very positive» step. However, he cautioned against premature optimism, stating, «The fact that we are going to hold talks is good and positive. But it’s too early to make any predictions. Let’s wait for Tuesday and see how the dialogue goes,» as quoted by CNN.
A Russian delegation, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, has already arrived in Riyadh. They are set to hold bilateral discussions with senior members of the U.S. foreign policy team. Lavrov emphasized that the talks will not only focus on the war in Ukraine but will also cover broader relations between Moscow and Washington.
«The presidents agreed that dialogue should be resumed on all issues that can be resolved one way or another with the participation of Russia and the United States,» Lavrov stated on February 17th.
«The Ukrainian settlement was also mentioned, as well as the situation in the Middle East and several other regions of the world that are currently unstable.»
Yuri Ushakov, speaking on Russian state television, underscored the importance of the meeting, stating, «What would be the ideal outcome of the negotiations? Let’s see. The main thing is to start a real normalization of relations between us and Washington. Are there chances that tensions will subside after tomorrow’s talks? Let’s wait and see. There are serious people there, and we also arrived with a serious approach.»
Despite Ukraine being the central point of conflict between the U.S. and Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made it clear that his government will not be involved in the negotiations. When asked about his participation, Zelensky responded decisively: «Even if I am asked, my visits have nothing to do with these negotiations.»
However, he added that when he visits Saudi Arabia, he will ask King Salman what he knows about the discussions, according to a report by Politico.
Marco Rubio commented that the primary goal of the United States at the talks is to assess the seriousness of Moscow’s intentions regarding a settlement in Ukraine.
«I think President Trump will figure out very quickly if this is really the case or if this is an attempt to buy time. But I don’t want to speculate ahead of time,» he said in an interview with CBS on February 16th. «In the end, one phone call will not lead to peace. One phone call won’t solve the problem of a complex war like this.»
Meanwhile, an emergency summit on the security of Ukraine and Europe has begun in Paris. The Elysee Palace said that Macron had a telephone conversation with Trump before the meeting.
Key European leaders in attendance at the Paris summit include the heads of government from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Von der Leyen expressed concern over the U.S. sidelining both Ukraine and Europe in these crucial discussions. «The issue is about Ukraine—but also about us. We need an urgency mindset. We need a surge in defense. And we need both of them now,» she emphasized.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed her sentiments, telling reporters before heading to the French capital: «This isn’t just about the frontline in Ukraine. It’s the frontline of Europe and of the UK. It’s about our national security.»
«Now it’s clear that Europe is alone,» one of the EU’s senior diplomats told the Financial Times.
To the question «Do you consider the United States an enemy now?», he replied «Yes.»
As the world watches the talks in Riyadh, there are many questions about whether the United States and Russia can reach any meaningful agreements. While the meeting itself is a positive step in resuming dialogue, it remains unclear whether it will lead to a de-escalation of tensions or simply serve as a symbolic diplomatic gesture.
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