US, Russia hold key talks in Saudi Arabia over Ukraine war

High-level officials from the United States and Russia have convened in Riyadh to explore potential avenues for ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. No representatives from Kyiv are present at the meeting, which has just begun.

The discussions come as European leaders grapple with the rapidly shifting dynamics surrounding the conflict, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

The talks follow a significant phone call last week between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which marked a departure from traditional US positions on Ukraine.

During the call, Trump reversed key policies, including support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its NATO aspirations, drawing sharp reactions from Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that his country will not accept any agreements that do not involve them directly.

The US delegation includes White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In contrast, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov represent Moscow.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce explained that the meeting aims to gauge Russia’s willingness to engage constructively on a resolution to the conflict. Ushakov confirmed that the primary goal of the talks is to pave the way for a "real normalization of relations" between Washington and Moscow.

According to the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev, progress in negotiations between the two countries is possible in the next 2–3 months.

He further noted that, the resumption of gas pumping through the intact section of the Nord Stream pipeline has not yet been discussed during talks in Riyadh.

"This has not been discussed yet. We are only at the beginning of the dialogue," he added.

To recap, the meeting comes on the heels of Trump’s assertion that his 90-minute call with Putin was “highly productive,” and he expressed optimism about the potential for further discussions in Saudi Arabia. It marked the first publicly confirmed communication between the Russian president and a sitting US leader since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Trump’s decision to engage with Russia without Kyiv’s involvement has raised eyebrows in Europe, with some leaders voicing concern about the rapid pace of US-Russia talks. Critics have questioned the absence of Ukrainian representation, prompting clarifications from the US that these are exploratory discussions rather than formal negotiations aimed at resolving the war.

Tammy Bruce added that the talks should not be seen as a breakthrough in negotiations, stressing that any future discussions would involve Ukraine as a central participant. Despite reassurances from the US, the European reaction has been mixed, with some officials alarmed by the speed with which Trump has pushed for engagement with Putin, particularly after Vice President JD Vance criticized European governments during a recent security conference.

By Aghakazim Guliyev