Mon Feb 17 12:54:46 UTC 2025: ## US and Russia to Hold Surprise Talks in Saudi Arabia Amidst Ukraine War
**Riyadh, Saudi Arabia** – In a move that has surprised Kyiv and sparked debate in Europe, top US and Russian diplomats will meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. This marks the first high-level meeting between the two countries since the Russian invasion in February 2022. The discussions, which will include the possibility of a summit between Presidents Trump and Putin, are taking place without Ukraine’s participation, a decision that has drawn strong criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The US delegation will include Secretary of State Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and a senior Putin aide, Yuri Ushakov. Moscow has stated its intention to focus on restoring broader US-Russia relations, including addressing NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe, a long-standing grievance.
Zelensky, who will be in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for a pre-planned visit, has explicitly stated that Kyiv will not recognize any agreements reached without its involvement. He has previously indicated a willingness to meet directly with Putin, but only after a common allied position on ending the war is established.
The Kremlin has emphasized its desire for bilateral talks with the US, rejecting the involvement of other European nations. Lavrov dismissed the potential contribution of European countries, stating that their participation would only serve to prolong the conflict.
While Germany expressed tentative support for the talks, hoping for a “durable peace,” the meeting has caused unease in Europe, particularly given the recent battlefield gains made by Russia and concerns over potential shifts in US military aid to Ukraine. An emergency summit of European leaders in Paris on Monday highlighted the divisions over supporting Ukraine, including discussions on potential peacekeeping forces, with varying stances taken by France, the UK, Sweden, Germany, and Poland.
The prospects for a successful resolution remain uncertain, as both Kyiv and Moscow have ruled out territorial concessions. The ongoing military conflict, with Russia making recent advances along the front line, casts a shadow over the diplomatic efforts. The meeting’s outcome and its impact on the war in Ukraine remain to be seen.
First Piper 