Russia and the US Confirm Ukraine Talks in Saudi Arabia
The United States and Russia have announced that senior officials will meet in Saudi Arabia this week to discuss a potential resolution to the war in Ukraine, a move that has raised alarms among European leaders who feel sidelined in the US-led diplomatic efforts.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, will travel to Riyadh, confirmed Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. They will meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff to lay the groundwork for peace talks.
This confirmation comes just days after US President Donald Trump and Putin agreed during a phone call to begin negotiations to end the war, which is set to mark its third anniversary later this month. Trump’s push for bilateral talks with Moscow has raised concerns over what role Ukraine and its European allies will have in the negotiations. There are fears that the US president may make concessions to Russia, weakening both Europe’s security and its defense partnership with the US.
Peskov revealed that Tuesday’s meeting in Riyadh will focus on “restoring the whole complex of Russian-American relations” and may pave the way for a potential meeting between Trump and Putin. There are reports that Trump could meet Putin in Saudi Arabia soon, which has intensified speculation about the future direction of peace talks.
Rubio stated that the purpose of the meeting is to open a broader conversation about ending the war and that the peace process will not be settled in a single meeting. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine will not participate in the Saudi-based talks or recognize any agreements reached without Kyiv’s involvement. However, Zelenskyy plans to visit Saudi Arabia separately on Wednesday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for updates on the negotiations. He is also scheduled to visit Turkey on Tuesday at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where they will discuss improving bilateral relations and the situation in Ukraine.
There is growing concern among Ukrainian leadership that they are being excluded from key discussions. Ukrainian officials are starting to acknowledge the changing realities of the situation, recognizing that a return to Ukraine’s pre-war borders may no longer be feasible.
Meanwhile, European leaders are set to meet in Paris to discuss how to respond to the US’s surprising shift in policy toward Ukraine, which has left Kyiv and its European allies out of the loop. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that Europe’s security is at a “turning point,” stressing the urgent need for a surge in defense capabilities.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for immediate action to bolster Europe’s defenses, which he argued currently fall short of Russia’s military potential. He emphasized that Europe would not be able to help Ukraine effectively without strengthening its own defense capabilities.
Trump’s announcement of his intention to negotiate “peace in Ukraine” directly with Putin has raised concerns across Europe, particularly as US officials have indicated that they do not expect European nations to be involved in the talks. Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Paris, noted that there is a real sense of urgency among European leaders, as they fear the growing distance between the US and Europe could have serious implications for European security.
Kremlin spokesperson Peskov suggested that Moscow is pleased with Trump’s approach and argued that European participation in peace talks is premature. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov went further, accusing European nations of wanting to prolong the war and questioning their role in any ceasefire talks.
Before the informal summit in Paris, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated that European leaders would discuss how to prevent any peace negotiation from rewarding Russia’s aggression. He expressed skepticism about the possibility of peace in the near future, given Putin’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine.
The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has also warned against any potential deals made without Ukraine or Europe’s involvement, accusing such actions of appeasing Russia’s aggression.
As tensions grow, European leaders are grappling with how to assert their role in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.
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