U.S. and Russian Officials Seek Peace Agreement Terms in Riyadh Talks

U.S. and Russian officials discussed potential peace terms regarding Ukraine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, without Ukrainian representatives. Secretary Marco Rubio led the U.S. delegation, and the talks aimed at establishing a ceasefire and new elections in Ukraine. U.S. officials also stressed the importance of cooperation with Russia, while concerns over forced elections and Zelenskyy’s lack of involvement were highlighted.

United States and Russian officials engaged in diplomatic discussions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, absent any Ukrainian delegates. Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the U.S. team, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov represented Russia. The primary objective of these talks was to establish terms for a potential peace agreement regarding the situation in Ukraine, alongside discussions on scheduling a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The proposed structure may include a ceasefire in Ukraine, subsequent elections, and ultimately, a peace accord.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce confirmed that Rubio’s team aims to establish cooperative frameworks with Russia on several issues, beyond just Ukraine. Both parties agreed to create high-level teams tasked with outlining a resolution to the Ukrainian conflict. Reports suggest that organizing new elections in Ukraine could be pivotal to a peace deal, particularly as both the U.S. and Russia perceive President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chances of re-election as rather low.

A diplomatic memorandum highlighted that Putin anticipates a favorable outcome should Ukraine hold new elections; he perceives a candidate other than Zelenskyy as more amenable to negotiations. U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick, who leads the House Ukraine caucus, publicly denounced any notion of enforcing elections in Ukraine on social media. Additionally, President Zelenskyy has maintained that any agreements between the U.S. and Russia must include Ukrainian participation, a sentiment echoed by Trump.

The perception of trust-building emerged as a significant theme in the ongoing discussions in Riyadh, with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff emphasizing its importance over immediate details of a peace agreement. During a recent call, Zelenskyy voiced skepticism towards Putin, particularly expressing his view that Putin is insincere about desiring peace. His immediate return to Kyiv from the Middle East underscored the urgency of Ukraine’s involvement in the peace dialogue.

Exclusions from the Riyadh talks included European representatives, despite strong European contributions to the conflict discourse. Notably, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the U.K. expressed his readiness to deploy British forces to Ukraine under a peace deal framework, asserting that the security of Europe is of paramount concern. This development signals a significant commitment to ensuring Ukraine’s stability amid ongoing hostilities.

In summary, the U.S. and Russian diplomatic discussions aim to reach a peace agreement concerning Ukraine, despite Ukrainian leadership being excluded from the talks. The U.S. emphasizes cooperation while reporting pressure for Ukraine to consider elections as part of a peace strategy. The absence of European representatives highlights the complexities of the negotiations. Overall, the discussions advocate for building trust and securing Ukraine’s sovereignty against the backdrop of escalating conflict.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com