US, Russia to appoint negotiating teams for Ukraine peace talks after high-level meeting in Saudi Arabia
PTC Web Desk: The United States (US) and Russia have agreed to appoint high-level negotiating teams to explore a pathway to ending the war in Ukraine, following discussions held in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The meeting marked the first official high-level dialogue between Washington and Moscow since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Notably, the talks did not include representatives from Ukraine or the European Union.
Despite the significant diplomatic step, no details emerged about a potential meeting between former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The absence of specifics has raised concerns among some European leaders, who fear Washington may make major concessions to Moscow, potentially reshaping Europe’s security landscape reminiscent of Cold War-era diplomacy.
During the discussions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to establish "respective high-level teams" aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine "as soon as possible," according to a statement from the US State Department. Additionally, both sides agreed to create a "consultation mechanism" to address ongoing challenges in US-Russia relations and lay the foundation for future cooperation.
Moscow confirmed the agreement but offered fewer details, stating that both parties "outlined their principled positions" and agreed to maintain communication through designated negotiation teams. However, Putin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, mentioned that no date has been set for a potential meeting between Putin and Trump.
Russia suggested that resolving the conflict would require a review of Europe’s defense agreements, citing longstanding demands for NATO's withdrawal from Eastern Europe, which Moscow views as a direct threat to its national security. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasised that a "lasting and long-term viable resolution" would only be possible through a comprehensive review of security issues on the European continent.
Ahead of the Saudi Arabia meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his discontent, stating he was not invited and would not accept any decisions made without Ukraine's involvement. Meanwhile, European leaders held an emergency meeting in Paris but struggled to maintain a united front.
Both Washington and Moscow characterised the Riyadh talks as the start of a potentially lengthy negotiation process without immediate breakthroughs. Trump has indicated his desire to end the conflict but has yet to present a detailed peace plan.
- With inputs from agencies
