Russia, US Hold Landmark Talks to Restore Ties | Key Takeaways

Top diplomats from Russia and the United States met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss improving bilateral ties and exploring ways to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Notably, Ukrainian officials were not present at the discussions.

The meeting was attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, and other key figures from both nations. The talks took place at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025.

Key Takeaways from the US-Russia Talks:

1. Restoring Diplomatic Staffing:
   Both nations agreed to restore staffing levels at their embassies, which have suffered due to the expulsion of diplomats in recent years. This agreement marks a step towards normalizing relations, following a period of strained diplomacy and a series of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and European countries on Russia.

2. Potential Summit Between Trump and Putin:
   The discussions were also seen as laying the groundwork for a potential summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Russian Foreign Policy Advisor Yuri Ushakov indicated that while no date had been set, it was “unlikely” the summit would take place in the coming week.

3. Ukraine’s Absence from Talks:
   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine will not accept any peace outcomes unless Kyiv is directly involved in the negotiations. European allies have also expressed concerns about being excluded from the talks. Rubio assured that any peace deal would require the involvement of all relevant parties, including the European Union.

4. Sanctions and Economic Cooperation:
   During the talks, Sergei Lavrov suggested that the U.S. might be open to lifting some of the sanctions imposed on Russia due to its military actions in Ukraine. Lavrov noted that both sides expressed interest in removing barriers to mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

5. Aimed at Determining Russia’s Intentions:
   The U.S. State Department clarified that the primary goal of the meeting was to gauge Russia's seriousness about pursuing peace and to determine if more detailed negotiations on ending the war could be initiated.

Conclusion:

While the meeting represents a potential shift towards improved relations between the U.S. and Russia, key challenges remain. The absence of Ukraine from the talks and concerns from European allies underscore the complexities surrounding any potential peace agreement. The U.S. and Russia are still far from aligning their positions, with both sides keen to consider each other’s interests as they navigate the path forward.