High-Level Meeting Excludes Kyiv, Raising Concerns over Future of Conflict
Riyadh/Moscow/Washington: Senior officials from the United States and Russia met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the first high-level discussions since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago. The talks, held at Riyadh’s Diriyah Palace, focused on exploring a potential resolution to the ongoing war, but notably excluded representatives from Ukraine and Europe.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov led their respective delegations in a meeting that lasted more than four hours. The discussions aimed at addressing “irritants” in US-Russia relations and setting up negotiating teams to work on ending the conflict in Ukraine, according to a US statement. However, a US spokeswoman cautioned that these talks were still in their early stages, saying, “One phone call followed by one meeting is not sufficient to establish enduring peace.”
A Shift in US Policy?
The absence of Ukrainian or European officials from the discussions signals a dramatic shift in Washington’s foreign policy under US President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly suggested that US military aid to Ukraine could end and that Kyiv may have to cede territory to Russia in any negotiated settlement.
Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov described the talks as “serious” but acknowledged that it was unclear whether the two sides’ positions had moved closer. He confirmed that both countries agreed to continue negotiations through designated teams.
Additionally, a possible meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was discussed, but no date has been set. Ushakov noted that such a meeting was “unlikely” to take place next week.
Ukraine Responds: ‘We Will Not Accept Any Deal Without Us’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticized the talks, stating that Kyiv had been kept uninformed about them. He reaffirmed Ukraine’s firm stance on retaining its occupied territories, saying, “We will never, under any circumstances, recognize our temporarily occupied territories as part of Russia. They are part of Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy also demanded “certain security guarantees” from the US and Europe, stressing that any agreement made without Ukraine’s involvement would not be accepted.
Russia’s Demands and Economic Hopes
The Kremlin, while expressing interest in a peaceful resolution, maintained that security concerns in Europe must be comprehensively addressed for a long-term settlement.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Ukraine’s right to join the European Union but rejected its NATO aspirations, calling for the alliance to formally abandon its 2008 pledge that Ukraine would eventually become a member. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated this stance, stating that NATO’s expansion remains a red line for Moscow.
Beyond the war, Russia is seeking “progress” in economic negotiations with the US. Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, revealed that Moscow has presented a series of economic proposals, adding that there could be developments “in the next two to three months.” Russia’s economy has been heavily impacted by US and EU sanctions since the invasion.
Ongoing Conflict and Russian Drone Attacks
The high-level meeting occurred against the backdrop of ongoing Russian military offensives in Ukraine. On Tuesday, ahead of the talks, Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Ukrainian territory, deploying 176 drones. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that most of the drones were intercepted or disabled through electronic jamming.
Despite this, some drones reached their targets. A Russian drone strike hit a residential building in Dolynska, in Ukraine’s Kirovohrad region, injuring a mother and her two children and leading to the evacuation of 38 apartments, according to local authorities. Additionally, drone debris damaged four residential buildings in the Cherkasy region.
Uncertain Future for Peace Talks
With Ukraine continuing to lose ground to Russian forces and US support appearing increasingly uncertain, the diplomatic path ahead remains unclear. While both Washington and Moscow have agreed to further negotiations, the exclusion of Ukraine from these talks raises concerns about the legitimacy and viability of any potential settlement.
As both sides weigh their next steps, the international community watches closely to see whether these discussions mark the beginning of a genuine peace process or merely another diplomatic standoff in a prolonged and devastating conflict.
