Washington, Moscow prepare for second round of high-level talks In Gulf region

US-Russia relations are entering a pivotal phase, with preparations underway for a second round of talks, potentially hosted in the Gulf region.

The first round of discussions took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last month, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov leading the talks, Caliber.Az reports, referencing US media.

The discussions notably sidelined the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a situation that had previously dominated US-Russia relations. Sources indicate that the focus of the upcoming negotiations will shift to economic cooperation, including energy deals and investment opportunities.

Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin’s key economic envoy to the talks, has suggested that future US-Russia collaboration could involve "energy" agreements, though specifics remain unclear. In addition, there are reports that Russia is seeking the involvement of US investors to restart the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which was halted by Germany following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Trump administration has shown interest in engaging with Russia in long-term scientific projects, including space exploration. Dmitriev has posted a computer-generated image on social media, suggesting a joint US-Russia-Saudi mission to Mars aboard a SpaceX rocket.

This emerging diplomatic shift follows a tense moment in the White House, when President Trump reportedly criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a dramatic Oval Office confrontation. Moscow has welcomed this tension, viewing it as an opportunity for closer ties with the US and accelerated negotiations on US-Russia economic deals, which could take priority over Ukraine's war.

While the talks remain in the early stages, there is growing optimism in Moscow about the potential for closer economic ties with the US, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. The developments indicate a dramatic realignment in US foreign policy, raising questions about the future of Washington’s relationships with its traditional allies in Europe.

As the US administration accelerates its engagement with Moscow, questions remain about the long-term implications for global geopolitics and the Western alliance. While some speculate that the US may be shifting its focus towards Russia in anticipation of future confrontations with China, the motivations behind this pivot remain the subject of intense debate.

By Aghakazim Guliyev