Historic Meeting in Riyadh
Senior officials from the United States and Russia met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday to discuss improving diplomatic ties and negotiating a potential end to the war in Ukraine.
The high-profile meeting, held at Diriyah Palace, marked a significant shift in U.S.-Russia relations under President Donald Trump, who recently announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to initiate peace negotiations.
Key Participants in the Talks
The U.S. delegation was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was joined by:
- National Security Adviser Mike Waltz
- Special Envoy Steve Witkoff
Representing Russia were:
- Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
- Kremlin Foreign Affairs Adviser Yuri Ushakov
Additionally, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Adviser Musaed al Alban attended the opening session before leaving early.
Ukraine and Europe Left Out of Talks
Notably, Ukrainian officials were excluded from the discussions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly opposed any agreements made without Kyiv’s involvement, stating that Ukraine “would not accept the outcome” if it wasn’t included in negotiations.
The absence of European allies has sparked concerns that the U.S. and Russia may move forward with a deal that does not fully align with Ukraine’s interests.
In response, France convened an emergency meeting with European Union leaders and the United Kingdom to coordinate their stance.
European Reactions to U.S.-Russia Talks
- French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Trump and Zelenskyy following the Riyadh meeting, stressing that peace must come with “strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians.”
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested for the first time that the U.K. could send troops to Ukraine to maintain a peace agreement.
- Sweden also indicated a willingness to deploy forces to support Ukraine.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, while ruling out sending Polish troops, urged Europe to increase defense spending immediately.
Saudi Arabia’s Rising Diplomatic Role
By hosting the U.S.-Russia negotiations, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a key diplomatic player on the world stage.
Saudi Arabia has previously:
- Assisted in prisoner exchanges during the war.
- Hosted Zelenskyy at the Arab League summit in 2023.
Saudi media has framed the talks as a prestigious moment for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose international reputation was tarnished by the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Saudi daily Okaz described Riyadh as now being at the center of global diplomacy.
What’s Next?
- The Riyadh talks mark the most significant direct U.S.-Russia engagement on Ukraine since the war began.
- European leaders are working to ensure they are not sidelined in the negotiations.
- Zelenskyy is expected to visit Saudi Arabia later this week to push Ukraine’s position.
With U.S.-Russia relations warming, the global balance of power could shift, leaving major questions about how Ukraine and its allies will respond.
