U.S.-Russia peace negotiations include discussions on withdrawing from or not deploying U.S. troops in countries that joined NATO after 1990
US and Russia Agree to "Normalize" Relations, Begin Talks on Ukraine War
US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for high-stakes discussions, agreeing to "normalize" relations and initiate talks on the war in Ukraine, according to the US State Department.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the meeting as "the first step of a long and difficult journey." While he acknowledged that concessions would be necessary on both sides, he cautioned against "predetermining" what those compromises should be.
Key Issues: Territory and Security Guarantees
US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz stated that territory and security guarantees would be central to any future negotiations and reaffirmed that there must be an "end" to Russia's war in Ukraine.
Both Rubio and Waltz pushed back on claims that European officials were being sidelined, with Rubio emphasizing that the EU’s sanctions against Russia meant it would naturally play a role. Waltz added that US allies were being consulted "almost daily" and would continue to be included.
The possibility of a direct meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was also briefly discussed, though Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov suggested that such a meeting was unlikely to happen next week.
Following the talks, Ushakov described the discussions as "not bad" but admitted that the US and Russia's positions remained far apart.
Ukraine Pushes Back: "No Agreement About Us Without Us"
The meeting in Riyadh marked the first in-person discussions between top US and Russian officials since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.
It followed a surprise phone call between Trump and Putin last Wednesday, during which Trump declared that both leaders had agreed to begin immediate negotiations.
However, the development has sparked controversy, particularly in Kyiv, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Ukraine would not accept any peace deal made without its participation.
"We cannot recognize any agreements about us without us," Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine had not been informed about the Riyadh talks.
The Kremlin confirmed that the meeting aimed to lay the groundwork for potential peace negotiations and to discuss the possibility of a Trump-Putin summit.
However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Europe had "no place" at the negotiating table and ruled out territorial concessions to Ukraine—a key sticking point between Putin and Zelenskyy.
Kyiv, meanwhile, has made it clear that any peace agreement must include the full withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories, including:
- Crimea (annexed by Russia in 2014)
- Donetsk and Luhansk (claimed by Moscow)
- All areas seized since the 2022 invasion
Russia: "US-Russia Relations Are Key to Global Stability"
Ahead of the talks, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, stressed the importance of US-Russia relations for global stability.
"Good US-Russia relations are very important for the whole world. Only jointly can Russia and the US address global problems, resolve conflicts, and offer solutions," Dmitriev said.
As tensions remain high, the outcome of these negotiations could shape the future of the war in Ukraine—and the broader geopolitical landscape.