Tue Feb 18 13:43:42 UTC 2025: ## US and Russia Hold Surprise High-Level Talks in Saudi Arabia, Raising Hopes and Concerns
**Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/Moscow, Russia –** In a surprising move, United States and Russian officials held their first high-level talks in three years on Tuesday in Riyadh, sparking both optimism and controversy. The meeting, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, focused on potential pathways to end the war in Ukraine. Notably absent were representatives from Ukraine and European nations.
The talks, lasting over four hours, have raised concerns, particularly in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared his country would not accept any agreement reached without its participation and demanded security guarantees from the US and Europe. He emphatically stated Ukraine would never recognize its occupied territories as part of Russia.
The unprecedented meeting reflects a shift in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump, who has hinted at ending US aid to Ukraine and suggested territorial concessions by Kyiv. While both sides expressed a commitment to addressing “irritants” in their relationship and establishing negotiating teams to resolve the conflict, the US emphasized that the process is in its early stages and a lasting peace is far from guaranteed.
The discussions included the possibility of a summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month, though no date has been set and a meeting next week is considered unlikely. While both sides acknowledge the challenges ahead and don’t expect a quick breakthrough, there’s a mix of optimism and skepticism surrounding the talks.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry indicated that a lasting settlement requires addressing European security concerns, implicitly suggesting a reconsideration of NATO’s 2008 pledge regarding Ukraine’s membership. Beyond the Ukraine conflict, Russia hopes for progress on economic issues, aiming to alleviate the impact of US and EU sanctions.
The talks coincided with a renewed Russian drone attack on Ukraine, which targeted residential buildings, causing injuries and prompting evacuations. This underscores the ongoing conflict and the fragility of any potential peace negotiations. The implications of these high-stakes talks remain to be seen, but the meeting itself marks a significant development in the three-year-old war.
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