On Tuesday, 18 February, 2025, bilateral talks between high-ranking Russian and U.S. officials took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting discussed the normalisation of bilateral relations and the possible start of negotiations to resolve the situation in Ukraine.
Composition of the Delegations
The Russian delegation were led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Presidential Aide for International Affairs Yuri Ushakov. The Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff represented the United States.
Objectives and Agenda
Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the main objective of the meeting was the normalisation of relations between Moscow and Washington. Other issues discussed the start of possible negotiations on Ukraine, as well as prospects for a diplomatic thaw at the highest level.
Ushakov emphasised that the negotiations will be exclusively bilateral, without the participation of third countries. This statement confirms the intention of the parties to focus on direct dialogue to achieve specific results.
Ukraine’s Reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that his country was not invited to take part in the upcoming talks between the United States and Russia.
Kyiv said it would not recognise the outcome of the meeting, as it believes that any decisions concerning Ukraine should be made with its direct participation.
Outcomes of the Meeting
Both sides express hope that the upcoming meeting will be a step towards reducing tensions and finding ways to resolve the situation peacefully.
Saudi Arabia, the host country, provides a neutral platform for dialogue, which underlines its intermediary position as it maintains close relations with Washington and Moscow.
Lessons from Previous U.S.-Russia Negotiations
Negotiations between Russia and the US have been held in third countries on numerous occasions.
One notable example was the meeting between Presidents Putin and Biden in Geneva in 2021.
The Helsinki Accords of 1975, which reduced tensions between East and West, also played an important role.
The Minsk agreements of 2014–2015, brokered by Germany and France, were an attempt to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but their implementation proved difficult. History shows that such meetings rarely lead to immediate solutions, but set the vector for future negotiations.
The upcoming talks in Riyadh highlight ongoing efforts to ease tensions between Russia and the United States. While immediate breakthroughs are unlikely, the meeting could set the stage for future talks on Ukraine and broader geopolitical stability.
History shows that diplomacy takes time, but direct dialogue remains essential to resolving conflict.
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