IRIA News

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Top diplomats from the United States and Russia met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025, for a pivotal four-hour discussion focused on the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Both sides described the talks as “positive” and a “first step” toward resolution, marking a significant diplomatic shift.

This was the first high-level U.S.-Russian meeting since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. However, the absence of Ukraine and European nations from the negotiations has sparked criticism, with some questioning the exclusion of key stakeholders from the process.

The four-hour-long talks between American and Russian diplomats took place at one of the palaces of the Saudi royal family in Riyadh’s Al Basateen complex. 

U.S. delegation: The U.S. delegation was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio who was joined by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Ambassador Steve Witkoff. The three are members of the team chosen by President Trump to reestablish the bilateral relationship.

Russian delegation: Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al Aiban were also present during the meeting.

The Riyadh meeting marked the first in-person dialogue between senior U.S. and Russian officials since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict nearly three years ago. The initiative for these talks came after President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders agreed to commence negotiations promptly.

At the start of the meeting, Rubio emphasized the preliminary nature of the discussions, stating, “This is the first step of a long and difficult journey.” He underscored the necessity for mutual concessions but cautioned against presupposing specific outcomes: “Concessions should be made on both sides, but it would be wrong to predetermine those.”

Waltz highlighted that future negotiations must address critical issues such as territorial disputes and security assurances. He asserted, “Discussion of territory and security guarantees would underlie any type of talks moving forward,” and stressed the importance of concluding Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.

Both Rubio and Waltz refuted claims that European allies have been sidelined in the peace process. Rubio noted the European Union’s active role, mentioning, “The EU would be involved as it had sanctions [against Russia] that have been imposed.” Waltz added that U.S. allies are being consulted “literally almost daily, and we’ll continue to do so.”

Following the talks, Dmitriev remarked that the Russian and U.S. teams treated each other with respect and as equals. “It is too early to talk about compromises. We can say that the sides started communicating with each other, started listening to each other, started the dialog,” he said. Dmitriev also noted that the discussions covered potential economic cooperation and energy prices.

Ushakov stated that the delegations had a “very serious conversation on all issues.” However, he noted that it remains difficult to say whether Russia and the U.S. are moving closer in their positions. He added that both countries agreed to “take into account each other’s interests.”

A statement issued by the U.S. Department of State said that the two sides agreed on:

• Establishing a consultation mechanism to address issues in U.S.-Russia bilateral relations, with the goal of normalizing diplomatic operations between our countries.
• Appointing high-level teams from both sides to begin working toward a swift and sustainable resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, ensuring the solution is acceptable to all parties.
• Laying the foundation for future cooperation on shared geopolitical interests and exploring significant economic and investment opportunities that will arise from a successful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
• Both parties have pledged to remain actively engaged to ensure progress continues in a timely and constructive manner.

📺 Russian & US delegations in Riyadh pic.twitter.com/exdGnWqydz

— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) February 18, 2025

European forces in Ukraine

Russia deems any possible deployment of NATO or European troops in Ukraine as unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov stated. He noted that during the talks, he addressed “the issue of a potential deployment of armed forces or peacekeepers in the event of a conflict resolution or agreement.”

Lavrov emphasized, “We made it clear today that the presence of any troops or armed forces from NATO countries, regardless of whether they operate under different flags, such as those of the European Union or individual nations, remains unacceptable to us.”

Lavrov mentioned that Moscow was open to listening to U.S. proposals but maintained that Europe had “no place at the negotiating table.” Lavrov also emphasized that Russia had no plans to make territorial concessions to Ukraine, a point likely to be contentious given Kyiv’s insistence on the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from occupied regions, including Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk.

Putin-Trump meeting

The possibility of a direct meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was also briefly discussed. However, Ushakov indicated that such a meeting was unlikely to occur in the immediate future.

Reflecting on the day’s discussions, Ushakov described them as “not bad,” but acknowledged, “It is still difficult to say that [the positions of Russia and the United States] are converging, but there was talk about it.”

Exclusion of Europe and Ukraine from US-Russia talks

The exclusion of Ukrainian and European representatives from these talks has sparked considerable concern. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly stated that Kyiv would not acknowledge any peace agreements formulated without its direct involvement, “We cannot recognize, any agreements about us without us.” He further expressed that Ukraine was not informed about the Riyadh discussions.

From the Kremlin’s perspective, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that the meeting was intended to prepare for potential negotiations concerning the Ukrainian situation and to organize a summit between the U.S. and Russian presidents.

In response to the rapid progression of U.S.-Russia negotiations, French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting in Paris with other European leaders. The assembly reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine but did not provide specific security guarantees, such as deploying peacekeeping forces to Ukrainian territory.

Trump’s reaction over Ukraine’s complaint

U.S. President Trump, addressing reporters after the Riyadh talks, dismissed concerns about Kyiv’s exclusion from the negotiations. Trump also seemed to blame Kyiv, claiming Ukraine could have “made a deal” to avert war.

“I’m very disappointed, I hear that they’re upset about not having a seat [at the talks],” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “Today I heard, ‘oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years … You should have never started it. You could have made a deal,” he said. He added: “… I could have made a deal for Ukraine that would have given them almost all of the land.”

Trump said he was “much more confident” of reaching an agreement after the talks, adding: “They were very good. Russia wants to do something. They want to stop the savage barbarianism,” Trump said, adding: “I think I have the power to end this war, and I think it’s going very well.”

When questioned about supporting Russia’s proposal for elections in Ukraine as part of a peace deal, Trump, without providing evidence, claimed that President Zelenskyy had a low approval rating and noted the suspension of elections under martial law. He remarked, “Yeah, I would say that you know when you want a seat at the table, Wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have to say like, ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election?'”

In response, President Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s stance that no decisions regarding the war’s resolution should be made without its participation: “No decision can be made without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine.” He also emphasized Ukraine’s demand for security guarantees from international partners, including the U.S. and the EU, before agreeing to any peace settlement.

Zelenskyy postpones visit to Saudi Arabia

President Zelenskyy had plans to visit Riyadh on the same day as the U.S.-Russia talks were taking place, however, in a last-minute announcement Zelenskyy postponed his trip while meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

After meeting with Zelenskyy in Ankara on Tuesday, Erdogan expressed support for diplomatic efforts to swiftly end the conflict and proposed Turkey as a potential host for future negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. Erdogan highlighted Turkey’s active diplomacy over the past three years and referenced previous negotiations held in Istanbul as a foundation for future discussions.

Україна дуже цінує відносини з Туреччиною і те, що в цей надзвичайний час війни ми маємо необхідне взаєморозуміння й отримуємо підтримку. Дякуємо за теплий прийом, гостинність і абсолютний конструктив у перемовинах.

Сьогодні разом із Президентом Туреччини Реджепом Таїпом… pic.twitter.com/q7ZfPNbvf3

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 18, 2025

As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains attentive to the developments arising from these unprecedented U.S.-Russia talks and their potential implications for the future of Ukraine and broader global stability.