Top US, Russian Officials Discuss Ukraine War in Saudi Arabia
US and Russian officials convened in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to explore the possibility of ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The talks, which lasted approximately four hours, did not involve any representatives from Kyiv.
A senior Russian official stated that no meeting between President Putin and President Trump had been scheduled. According to the Kremlin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, the positions of both sides remain distant, but a conversation had taken place.
The Saudi Foreign Minister was also present at the meeting, which followed a phone call between Putin and Trump last week, during which Trump reversed key US positions on the Ukraine conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that his country will not recognize any agreements reached without its involvement.
The US delegation included National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Russian delegation included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ushakov.
According to State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, the purpose of the talks was to assess the seriousness of Russia's commitment to ending the war. Ushakov indicated that the meeting would focus on preparations for negotiations and a potential meeting between the two presidents.
Former US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, highlighted the differing agendas of the two delegations: the Russians seeking improved US-Russia relations, and the Americans seeking an end to the Ukraine conflict.
Trump described last week's phone call with Putin as "highly productive" and suggested a potential meeting in Saudi Arabia. The call marked the first public contact between a Russian leader and US President since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Elon Musk has praised Trump's diplomatic efforts, while Russian-UK dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza has expressed concern that Putin may view the talks as a sign of weakness.
Following criticism from European leaders about the exclusion of Ukraine, the US clarified that the talks were exploratory in nature. European officials have expressed shock at the pace of Trump's push for negotiations with Putin, particularly after Vice President JD Vance criticized European governments at the Munich Security Conference.
French President Emmanuel Macron has stressed the importance of a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine and credible security guarantees for the country. The Trump administration has stated its opposition to deploying US troops as part of a security package for Kyiv, putting pressure on Europe to increase military spending.