Impending US-Russia Dialogue in Saudi Arabia: Current Insights
Senior diplomats from Russia and the United States are gathering in Saudi Arabia to address the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
**Top Officials from Both Countries to Discuss Solutions for Ukraine Conflict in Riyadh**
High-level delegations from Russia and the United States are set to engage in discussions in Saudi Arabia aimed at restoring diplomatic relations and finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Commencing on Tuesday in Riyadh, the negotiations were initiated during a 90-minute phone conversation last week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
### Key Negotiators
Both nations have dispatched their leading diplomats and officials to Saudi Arabia for these talks. The Russian delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Yury Ushakov, Putin’s premier foreign policy advisor.
On the American side, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio leads the delegation, joined by Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Notably, neither Ukrainian nor EU diplomats will participate in the meeting.
Many Western media outlets have expressed surprise regarding the absence of Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, from the US delegation.
### Objectives of Russia
According to Lavrov, Russia's primary goal in the discussions is to “hear out” the US concerning the Ukraine conflict and to revitalize bilateral dialogue that has been largely stagnant for the past three years.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the meeting would focus on “restoring the entire complex of Russian-American relations,” as well as “preparing for possible negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement” and setting the stage for a potential summit between Trump and Putin.
Russia insists it seeks a comprehensive and permanent resolution to the Ukraine conflict that tackles its root causes, which traces back to a Western-backed coup in Ukraine in 2014. Russian officials maintain that any resolution must include Ukraine’s agreement to neutrality, demilitarization, denazification, and acknowledgment of the existing territorial situation.
Furthermore, Lavrov has dismissed any notions of Russia conceding territory to Ukraine.
### The US Perspective
In a phone conversation with Lavrov prior to the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the objective is to restore communication with Russia. He did not elaborate on the specific issues related to the Ukraine conflict that would be addressed or indicate whether the US would contemplate lifting sanctions on Russia. Rubio pointed out that the Trump-Putin call alone cannot “solve a war as complex as this one,” underscoring the necessity for further discussions.
Following his conversation with Putin, Trump commented on the impracticality of Ukraine joining NATO and suggested that Kiev faces significant challenges in reclaiming territories lost to Russia over the last decade. He also implied that Ukraine’s president, Vladimir Zelensky—whom Russia regards as “illegitimate”—would need to organize elections.
### Exclusion of Ukraine and EU
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has confirmed that he was not invited to the Riyadh talks, asserting that Kiev will regard any discussions “about Ukraine without Ukraine” as “null and void.” While Zelensky is also planning a visit to Saudi Arabia, it is not officially connected to the upcoming negotiations.
Additionally, the US has indicated that EU representatives will not be present at the discussions, prompting concerns that the EU’s perspective on the Ukraine crisis may be overlooked.
However, Kellogg sought to allay EU leaders’ concerns by emphasizing that this exclusion does not imply that their interests are disregarded or unconsidered. He further stressed that the US is not excluding Ukraine from the dialogue.
In light of these developments, French President Emmanuel Macron convened an urgent summit on Monday in Paris focused on Ukraine and “the challenges of security in Europe.” The gathering is anticipated to include leaders from Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, along with senior EU officials and NATO chief Mark Rutte. The summit is expected to cover ongoing assistance and security guarantees for Ukraine, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicating that his nation stands ready to deploy troops if necessary.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
High-level delegations from Russia and the United States are set to engage in discussions in Saudi Arabia aimed at restoring diplomatic relations and finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Commencing on Tuesday in Riyadh, the negotiations were initiated during a 90-minute phone conversation last week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
### Key Negotiators
Both nations have dispatched their leading diplomats and officials to Saudi Arabia for these talks. The Russian delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Yury Ushakov, Putin’s premier foreign policy advisor.
On the American side, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio leads the delegation, joined by Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. Notably, neither Ukrainian nor EU diplomats will participate in the meeting.
Many Western media outlets have expressed surprise regarding the absence of Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, from the US delegation.
### Objectives of Russia
According to Lavrov, Russia's primary goal in the discussions is to “hear out” the US concerning the Ukraine conflict and to revitalize bilateral dialogue that has been largely stagnant for the past three years.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the meeting would focus on “restoring the entire complex of Russian-American relations,” as well as “preparing for possible negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement” and setting the stage for a potential summit between Trump and Putin.
Russia insists it seeks a comprehensive and permanent resolution to the Ukraine conflict that tackles its root causes, which traces back to a Western-backed coup in Ukraine in 2014. Russian officials maintain that any resolution must include Ukraine’s agreement to neutrality, demilitarization, denazification, and acknowledgment of the existing territorial situation.
Furthermore, Lavrov has dismissed any notions of Russia conceding territory to Ukraine.
### The US Perspective
In a phone conversation with Lavrov prior to the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the objective is to restore communication with Russia. He did not elaborate on the specific issues related to the Ukraine conflict that would be addressed or indicate whether the US would contemplate lifting sanctions on Russia. Rubio pointed out that the Trump-Putin call alone cannot “solve a war as complex as this one,” underscoring the necessity for further discussions.
Following his conversation with Putin, Trump commented on the impracticality of Ukraine joining NATO and suggested that Kiev faces significant challenges in reclaiming territories lost to Russia over the last decade. He also implied that Ukraine’s president, Vladimir Zelensky—whom Russia regards as “illegitimate”—would need to organize elections.
### Exclusion of Ukraine and EU
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has confirmed that he was not invited to the Riyadh talks, asserting that Kiev will regard any discussions “about Ukraine without Ukraine” as “null and void.” While Zelensky is also planning a visit to Saudi Arabia, it is not officially connected to the upcoming negotiations.
Additionally, the US has indicated that EU representatives will not be present at the discussions, prompting concerns that the EU’s perspective on the Ukraine crisis may be overlooked.
However, Kellogg sought to allay EU leaders’ concerns by emphasizing that this exclusion does not imply that their interests are disregarded or unconsidered. He further stressed that the US is not excluding Ukraine from the dialogue.
In light of these developments, French President Emmanuel Macron convened an urgent summit on Monday in Paris focused on Ukraine and “the challenges of security in Europe.” The gathering is anticipated to include leaders from Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, along with senior EU officials and NATO chief Mark Rutte. The summit is expected to cover ongoing assistance and security guarantees for Ukraine, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicating that his nation stands ready to deploy troops if necessary.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
