Senior American and Russian officials met in Riyadh on Tuesday in a high-stakes meeting aimed at rekindling their strained relationship.
Neither Ukraine nor European representatives were invited to this meeting, the first of its kind since Russia’s invasion. It is in preparation for a potential summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
It follows a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin last week. The meeting is led by respective foreign ministers.
The ambitious agenda has caused anxiety in Kyiv and European capitals, concerned about a rapprochement between Washington and Moscow happening without their knowledge.
On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg. Von der Leyen stressed that "the EU is carrying its full share of military assistance to Ukraine and stands ready to do even more," a European Commission spokesperson said.
The President reiterated that any resolution must respect Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, backed by strong security guarantees. She also expressed the EU's willingness to work alongside the US for a "lasting and just peace".
Keith Kellogg and Ursula von der Leyen. Credit: EU
Large table
In Riyadh on Wednesday, there were no public handshakes or press statements as the meeting began in a tense atmosphere just before 10:30 local time at the Diriyah Palace conference centre. Seated around a large mahogany table, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov faced each other with stern expressions.
Also present were US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, alongside Yuri Ushakov, Vladimir Putin’s diplomatic adviser, on the Russian side.
Russia, facing severe Western sanctions, expressed on Tuesday its anticipation for "rapid progress" in the economic aspects of the talks with the United States “within the next two to three months.”
Though not genuine peace negotiations, this meeting aims to lay the groundwork for potential discussions to resolve the Ukrainian conflict.
The American side emphasised that Washington wishes to first determine "if the Russians are serious" about re-establishing dialogue. The Riyadh meeting "will primarily focus on restoring overall US-Russia relations," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
Peskov added that it "will also deal with preparing potential negotiations regarding the Ukrainian conflict and organising a meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump.
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives to welcome European leaders before an informal summit to discuss the situation in Ukraine and European security at The Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris on February 17, 2025. Credit: Belga / AFP
Both parties tried to downplay expectations, but the meeting marks a dramatic turn in US-Russia relations, raising concerns among European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron hastily invited key European leaders to Paris on Monday to present a united stance on European security and move beyond being mere spectators.
Macron also held talks with Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "We desire a solid and lasting peace in Ukraine. For this to happen, Russia must stop its aggression, accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for Ukrainians," Macron wrote on X after these discussions.
Zelenskyy stated that Macron had informed him of the talks with European leaders and that they shared a “common vision” for achieving peace.
The Ukrainian president, currently in Turkey, is expected in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the day after the US-Russia meeting. He reiterated that Ukraine would not recognise any agreement made without its involvement and regretted not being informed in advance about the Riyadh talks.
