The United States and Russia have engaged in high-level discussions on Ukraine, marking the first senior-level diplomatic exchange between the two nations since the escalation of hostilities in 2022. The meeting, held in Saudi Arabia, lasted over four hours and resulted in an agreement to establish a formal negotiation framework. However, Ukraine was not directly involved in the discussions, raising concerns in Kyiv and among European allies.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that both sides had agreed to appoint special representatives to continue discussions. The U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, supported the creation of a consultation mechanism aimed at addressing U.S.-Russia relations. This includes diplomatic efforts such as restoring embassy staffing and discussing long-standing bilateral issues.
One of the key topics addressed was a proposed moratorium on attacks against energy infrastructure in both Russia and Ukraine. Lavrov stated that Russia had not targeted civilian facilities.
The absence of Ukraine from the negotiations prompted a response from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Turkey at the time. He characterized the meeting as a continuation of previous Russian proposals and emphasized that Ukraine would not accept agreements made without its involvement. He also expressed concerns about the lack of clear security assurances in any potential peace framework.
The Trump administration described the talks as a necessary step toward a sustainable resolution of the conflict. Even though Ukrainian officials did not fully agree with the process, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz stated that they were consulting Kyiv. President Donald Trump, who spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the meeting, expressed confidence in his ability to facilitate an end to the conflict.
The discussions have also drawn attention in European capitals, with French President Emmanuel Macron convening an emergency summit to assess potential implications. European leaders have explored the idea of deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, though Russia has dismissed such proposals.
As Washington and Moscow continue their dialogue, Ukraine maintains that any resolution must include its direct participation. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, the next steps in the negotiation process remain uncertain.
