High-Level Diplomatic Meeting in Riyadh
RIYADH: The United States and Russia have initiated discussions in Saudi Arabia aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Top diplomats from both nations met to explore potential paths toward restoring bilateral relations and addressing the war.
Key Participants and Objectives
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with a US delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. US officials emphasized that the meeting was not for negotiations but to assess Russia’s willingness to end the war.
Ukraine Excluded from Talks
Despite the significance of the meeting, Ukraine was not invited. President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his government was unaware of the talks and would not recognize any agreements made without Ukraine’s participation. Both sides acknowledge that reaching a resolution will take time.