Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Wednesday that the United States delegation expressed readiness to restore and expand bilateral relations. The breakthrough came during a high-level meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (Feb. 18), where officials from both nations discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Representing Russia were Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential aide Yury Ushakov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev. The US delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
During the meeting, the Russian delegation presented Moscow’s perspective on the conflict, citing concerns over NATO expansion and the “need to most harshly stop the actions” of the Ukrainian government aiming to “destroy everything connected with Russia” on its territory. Lavrov stated that the US showed “a willingness to not only resolve the Ukrainian crisis but also to establish conditions for a renewed [partnership] with Russia in trade, economic, and geopolitical affairs.” He emphasized the need to “clean up the legacy” of former US President Joe Biden.
The Riyadh summit, hosted by Saudi Arabia as part of its diplomatic facilitation efforts, marked the first direct negotiations between American and Russian diplomats since the war began on Feb. 24, 2022. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a key role in orchestrating the discussions, positioning the kingdom as an emerging global mediator.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggested that a potential meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could take place before the end of February, though no definitive date has been set. Trump, when asked by reporters at Mar-a-Lago, confirmed he would “probably” meet Putin this month, following a recent phone call between the two leaders.
Assessing the Riyadh talks, the Kremlin characterized the discussions as a “very important step” toward establishing the groundwork for a peace agreement. “Yesterday’s talks were focused on a roadmap for restoring Russian-American relations,” Peskov stated, underscoring the significance of the negotiations.
The meeting at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh was the most comprehensive diplomatic engagement between the two powers in over three years. Saudi state media highlighted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s directive in bringing the parties to the table, further cementing his position as a key broker in global diplomacy.
With reporting by news agencies
