Top US and Russian Officials Meet to Discuss Ukraine Conflict, Signal Cooperation

In a significant diplomatic development, top officials from the United States and Russia held their first round of talks regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. The meeting, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, raised the possibility of broader cooperation between the two nations.

High-Level Engagement and Sanctions Relief Discussed

The two sides engaged in over four hours of negotiations, agreeing to appoint high-level teams to work towards ending the conflict "as soon as possible in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides," according to the US State Department.

The US also raised the prospect of lifting the extensive sanctions imposed on Russia. Additionally, both parties agreed to explore increasing embassy staff, addressing other grievances in the relationship, and paving the way for enhanced cooperation.

Trump's Desire for Improved Ties

The talks reflect President Donald Trump's long-standing desire to improve relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting follows a phone call between the two leaders and signals that the current US administration is willing to depart from years of US policy that pledged Ukraine's involvement in any conflict resolution.

Concern and Alarm from Europe and Ukraine

The US approach has generated deep concern among European nations and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to participate in the meeting. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the US delegation, stated that the goal was to end the conflict in a manner "acceptable to all parties involved."

However, the approach has already drawn criticism from Zelenskiy, who canceled a scheduled trip to Saudi Arabia. "We were not invited to this US-Russia meeting, it was a surprise for us," he said.

Red Lines and Embassy Staffing

Russia has set out its own conditions, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissing a US proposal to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure. He claimed that Moscow does not target civilian installations despite evidence of Russian missile attacks decimating Ukraine's power grid.

The possibility of re-staffing the two countries' embassies and potentially lifting sanctions could erode US leverage. The US and Russia have previously reduced embassy staff in tit-for-tat expulsions over espionage and hacking allegations.

Peacekeeping and Diplomatic Summit

Trump has expressed support for European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine but has ruled out US involvement. European leaders are developing a comprehensive package to increase defense spending and support Kyiv.

The US and Russia have not yet set a date for an anticipated summit meeting between Trump and Putin. The Kremlin has discussed a meeting but indicated it is unlikely to occur next week.

Follow-Up and Next Steps

The two sides agreed to lay the groundwork for future cooperation on matters of mutual geopolitical interest once the war ends. Trump has expressed a desire to move quickly towards a permanent settlement in Ukraine.

The talks follow a landmark phone call between Trump and Putin last week, in which the US reversed key positions on the war. Trump described the call as "highly productive" and said they intended to meet in Saudi Arabia.

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