Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Russia and the U.S. have agreed to start working towards ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic relations, as stated by the top diplomats of both countries following a meeting on Tuesday. This marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
In an interview with The Associated Press after the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that both sides had agreed on three broad goals: restoring staffing at their embassies in Washington and Moscow, creating a high-level team to support peace talks for Ukraine, and exploring closer economic relations. He emphasized that the meeting was just the beginning of ongoing discussions and more work is needed to reach any agreements.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed Rubio’s statement, calling the conversation “very useful” and added, “We not only listened, but also heard each other.”
Trump’s National Security Adviser, Michael Waltz, and Special Mideast Envoy Steven Witkoff, along with Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, were present at the talks. However, no Ukrainian officials attended the meeting, which took place while Ukraine continues to lose ground against Russian forces in a war that has now lasted nearly three years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not accept any outcome from the talks as Kyiv wasn’t part of the meeting and postponed his trip to Saudi Arabia, originally scheduled for Wednesday. European allies have also expressed concerns about being sidelined.
Improving Russian-U.S. Relations
Tensions between Russia and the U.S. have been at a historic low in recent years, worsening after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In response, the U.S. and European nations imposed a series of sanctions aimed at damaging Russia’s economy, while diplomatic expulsions and other restrictions were imposed on both sides.
Rubio highlighted that ending the war in Ukraine could “unlock the door” to significant geopolitical and economic opportunities for collaboration between the U.S. and Russia. He also suggested that improving relations could benefit the global community in the long run.
The meeting in Riyadh set the stage for a possible summit between Trump and Putin, though Ushakov and Waltz stated that no date has been finalized yet. Ushakov suggested the meeting was unlikely to happen next week, but Waltz believed it could take place in the coming weeks.
Lavrov and Rubio both agreed on the three primary goals discussed, including appointing representatives to carry out “regular consultations” on Ukraine. Lavrov expressed optimism that the U.S. had gained a better understanding of Russia’s position.
Witkoff described the meeting as “positive, upbeat, and constructive,” with all parties committed to finding the right outcome. This was the most substantial contact between the two nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, though tensions have remained high.
French President Macron’s Involvement
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with both Trump and Zelenskyy following a European meeting on Monday. Macron expressed a commitment to achieving a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine, emphasizing that Russia must end its aggression, accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for Ukraine. He also pledged to collaborate with Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians toward this goal.
Saudi Arabia’s Role
The meeting in Riyadh, held at the direction of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a diplomatic player. The prince has worked to repair his international reputation, which was tarnished by the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE, has maintained close ties with Russia throughout the war on Ukraine, both through the OPEC+ oil cartel and through diplomatic channels. The kingdom has also facilitated prisoner exchanges and hosted Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit in 2023.
Although Zelenskyy had been scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia this week, he postponed his trip, suggesting he didn’t want his visit to be seen as part of the talks since Ukrainian officials were not invited. His visit is now rescheduled for March 10.
The War Continues
Meanwhile, Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine, including a drone assault overnight. Ukrainian officials reported the destruction of most of the 176 drones launched by Russian forces, although one drone hit a residential building in Dolynska, wounding a mother and two children. Four more residential buildings were damaged by drone debris in the Cherkasy region.
This report includes contributions from Associated Press writers Baraa Anwer, Jon Gambrell, Illia Novikov, and Sylvie Corbet.
