Senior Russian and U.S. officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss restoring diplomatic ties, negotiating a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine war, and preparing a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, the Kremlin announced Monday.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov will travel to Riyadh for the Tuesday talks, where they will be joined by a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Also attending will be Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
Talks Signal Shift in U.S.-Russia Relations
The planned meeting follows last week’s phone call between Trump and Putin, which marked a major shift in U.S. policy by reopening dialogue with Moscow after years of Western isolation following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
During the call, Trump reportedly agreed to initiate peace negotiations with Russia and later informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about his conversation with Putin. However, it remains unclear whether Ukraine will be directly involved in the discussions.
While Trump stated Sunday that Zelenskyy “will be involved,” he did not specify how. A Ukrainian delegation is already in Saudi Arabia, with some reports suggesting it is preparing for a potential visit by Zelenskyy himself.
Uncertainty Over Ukraine’s Role
Despite Trump’s comments, Ukrainian officials have been noncommittal about participating in any U.S.-Russia discussions.
Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak denied any Ukrainian involvement, telling local media that “there is nothing on the negotiating table worth discussing.” Similarly, top Zelenskyy aide Andriy Yermak stated that no direct talks with Russia were being planned “until a concrete peace plan is developed.”
Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who is also first deputy prime minister, said her delegation’s focus in Saudi Arabia is on strengthening economic ties, not direct negotiations with Russia.
U.S. Officials Push for Diplomacy
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News that the Saudi talks are a key first step toward ending the war.
“This is about trust-building,” Witkoff said, adding that the U.S. team hopes to make real progress in persuading both sides that the war should not continue.
When asked if Ukraine would be required to cede territory as part of a peace deal, Witkoff declined to comment, saying, “Those details matter, but the priority right now is ending the conflict.”
European Concerns and Political Implications
European leaders have also raised concerns, demanding a role in any negotiations. Many NATO allies have long insisted that no peace deal should be reached without Ukraine’s full involvement and consent.
The upcoming U.S.-Russia talks could also have significant political implications ahead of the U.S. presidential election, as Trump positions himself as a leader capable of ending the war through diplomacy.
While the White House has yet to publicly comment on the negotiations, the talks mark a significant development in global efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict—even as questions remain about Ukraine’s role in shaping the outcome.
