First round of US-Russia talks in Riyadh ends without breakthrough
The first high-level meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh on Tuesday ended after 4.5 hours with no immediate sign of progress. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, it is too early to speak of a rapprochement between the two sides.
Ushakov confirmed that preparations have begun for a possible summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, although he played down expectations of an imminent meeting. Both delegations will first have to do extensive preparatory work.
Consultative framework
Meanwhile, the US and Russia have agreed to set up a diplomatic contact mechanism to work towards ending the war in Ukraine. However, Ushakov stressed that it remains uncertain whether their positions have moved closer. The two countries also agreed to establish a consultative framework to explore future cooperation on geopolitical issues and potential economic and investment opportunities related to the resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
The US State Department described the talks as a "significant step forward", although spokeswoman Tammy Bruce noted that one meeting is not enough to achieve lasting peace.
Extraordinary opportunities for partnership
Rubio stressed that US-Russian relations could improve if the war in Ukraine ended, pointing to "extraordinary opportunities for partnership", but insisted that peace was the key to real progress. He also said that the European Union must eventually be involved in the negotiations, given its role in imposing sanctions on Russia.
Earlier today, Russian Deputy Foreign minister Aleksandr Groeshko was quoted by state news agency Tass as saying that the European Union could only play a role in negotiations on Ukraine if it first stopped supplying arms to Kiev. Groeshko did not comment on the role of the US at the negotiating table and its arms supplies.
Today's meeting was the first direct negotiations between Washington and Moscow at this level since Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. However, neither Ukraine nor the EU took part in the preliminary talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently visiting the Gulf region and is expected to arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday for further diplomatic talks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R), US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (L) and US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff (back R) © EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / POOL / AFP
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