Important Diplomatic Dialogue in Riyadh
On February 18, negotiations between the delegations of the USA and Russia took place in the capital of Saudi Arabia. The main topic of the meeting was the issue of resolving the war in Ukraine, as well as possible ways to restore diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.
Who Participated in the Meeting?
Representing the USA in the negotiations were:
- Marco Rubio – US Secretary of State;
- Michael Voltz – National Security Advisor;
- Steve Witkoff – Special Representative for the Middle East.
The Russian delegation included:
- Sergey Lavrov – Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs;
- Yuri Ushakov – Putin’s Advisor on International Affairs;
- Kirill Dmitriev – Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
Main Agenda Items
The negotiations began with a discussion of the general geopolitical situation. According to The Washington Post, the key topics were:
- Perspectives on ending the war in Ukraine;
- Possibility of partially lifting sanctions against the RF;
- Restoring diplomatic communication channels between Moscow and Washington;
- Economic cooperation between the countries, particularly in the energy sector and the Arctic region.
What Does Russia Aim for?
Moscow insisted on the need to review sanctions, especially those related to high-ranking officials, oligarchs, and the energy sector. According to Dmitriev, the US is now “ready to listen to Russia’s position”. At the same time, the Russian representative denied that the issue of sanctions is an official topic of the negotiations.
Washington’s Position
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that the purpose of the meeting is to understand if there is potential for deeper negotiations regarding Ukraine. However, the White House did not confirm readiness to make concessions to Russia.
Did the US and Russia Reach an Agreement?
Despite a wide range of discussed issues, no official agreements were reached. Dmitriev mentioned that “the Americans did not make direct promises, but they are willing to continue the dialogue”. The meeting in Riyadh may serve as a preparatory stage for negotiations between Putin and Trump.
Reaction from Ukraine and Europe
Official Kiev expressed concern that negotiations between the US and Russia are taking place without Ukraine’s involvement. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that “no agreement regarding Ukraine can be signed without Ukraine”. European leaders also criticize Washington’s approach. They emphasize that at the Munich conference, American officials hinted that the US would determine the negotiation format, excluding the EU from the process.
What Comes Next?
It is expected that after the talks in Saudi Arabia, separate meetings between Washington, Kiev, and Moscow will take place, following which the Trump administration will decide on further steps. Western analysts note that these negotiations could be the first steps towards more significant diplomatic initiatives that will impact the future of Europe and the world.
