US-Russia Commence Ukraine Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia Without Europe or Kyiv

On 18 February 2025, high-level diplomatic discussions commenced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between the United States and Russia, aiming to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and explore avenues for improving bilateral relations. The US delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, while the Russian side is represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov. US Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg is a notable omission.

These talks represent the most significant direct engagement between the two nations since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. The primary objective is to lay the groundwork for a potential summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the broader goal of negotiating an end to the protracted conflict.

Notably, the discussions have proceeded without the direct involvement of Ukrainian officials, a decision that has elicited strong reactions from Kyiv and European capitals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly stated that Ukraine will not recognize any agreements reached without its participation, emphasizing the necessity of Ukrainian involvement in any peace process.

European leaders have also expressed concerns over their exclusion from the initial talks. French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting in Paris with other European leaders to discuss the situation and coordinate a unified response. The exclusion of both Ukraine and European Union representatives has raised apprehensions about the potential outcomes of the US-Russia negotiations and their implications for European security.

In a gesture that may signal a willingness to improve diplomatic relations, Russia released a detained US citizen, Kalob Byers Wayne, ahead of the talks. Wayne had been arrested earlier in February for possession of cannabis-laced products at a Moscow airport. The Kremlin indicated that his release could be viewed in the context of the upcoming discussions, potentially as a goodwill measure.

The choice of Saudi Arabia as the venue for these critical talks underscores the Kingdom's growing role in international diplomacy. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been actively positioning the nation as a central player in mediating complex geopolitical conflicts, reflecting a strategic shift in the Kingdom's foreign policy objectives.

The outcomes of these talks could have profound implications for the trajectory of the Ukraine conflict, the broader dynamics of US-Russia relations, and the transatlantic relationship between Washington and Europe.

Image: US Department of State/Flickr

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