U.S.-Russia Talks in Saudi Arabia: Addressing the Ukraine Conflict

Russian and U.S. officials will meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss the Ukrainian conflict. Key participants include Sergei Lavrov and Marco Rubio, along with additional senior officials from both nations. The talks may lead to an upcoming summit between President Putin and President Trump, however, concerns regarding Ukraine’s representation persist.

Russian and U.S. officials are scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss the resolution of the ongoing war in Ukraine, as reported by Kommersant. Although the exact representatives from Russia have not been confirmed, it is speculated that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov may attend the discussions in Riyadh.

In anticipation of the meeting, Lavrov recently engaged in a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia after a visit to Israel. Rubio will be accompanied by White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Reports indicate that the delegations will prepare for a consequential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Bloomberg noted that Putin’s negotiating team consists of senior officials, including Yury Ushakov, Sergei Naryshkin, and Kirill Dmitriev. Additionally, it was stated that Dmitriev aims to strengthen economic relations between the U.S. and Russia during the discussions.

Trump had previously proposed the notion of a summit in Saudi Arabia following a phone call with Putin. Riyadh has expressed its willingness to host this meeting. However, the potential for direct U.S.-Russia negotiations, excluding Ukrainian representatives, has incited concern regarding the sidelining of Ukraine’s interests. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also present in Saudi Arabia but did not plan to engage with either U.S. or Russian officials.

Rubio emphasized the importance of Ukrainian participation in any genuine negotiations, stating, “if it’s real negotiations, Ukraine will have to be involved because they were the ones that were invaded.” However, he acknowledged the current lack of a formal negotiation process, indicating ongoing discussions between Putin and Trump only at this point.

In summary, significant talks are set to occur between Russian and U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia aimed at addressing the war in Ukraine. The involvement of key diplomatic figures from both sides underscores the importance of these discussions. Moreover, concerns have emerged regarding the exclusion of Ukrainian representatives from negotiations, highlighting the need for their interests to be considered in future talks. The outcomes of these meetings may significantly influence the geopolitical landscape surrounding the conflict.

Original Source: www.themoscowtimes.com