Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Arabian officials in Riyadh on Monday as part of preparations for upcoming negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The talks, set for Tuesday, will involve U.S. diplomats and their Russian counterparts, with the notable absence of Ukrainian officials, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the negotiations.
Rubio’s visit included meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud. This trip marks Rubio’s first official visit to the Middle East as Secretary of State, following his travels to Israel. He was accompanied by U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East.
On the Russian side, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and adviser Yuri Ushakov traveled to Saudi Arabia to participate in the discussions. Lavrov expressed hope for a new chapter in U.S.-Russian relations, indicating a desire to move past a period of significant tension. He emphasized the importance of listening to U.S. perspectives during the talks.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce noted that the primary goal of the negotiations is to assess Russia’s seriousness about pursuing peace and to determine if substantive discussions can begin. The talks are expected to lay the groundwork for a potential summit between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which could reshape U.S. foreign policy toward Moscow following years of isolation due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Despite the scheduled talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced strong objections to the proceedings, stating that any negotiations without Ukrainian involvement would yield no meaningful outcomes. He criticized the exclusion of Ukraine from the discussions and insisted that any peace settlement must include its participation. Zelenskyy is expected to travel to Turkey and Saudi Arabia this week, although he clarified that these trips are unrelated to the U.S.-Russia talks.
In parallel, French President Emmanuel Macron is convening an emergency meeting with European leaders to discuss the situation in Ukraine, highlighting the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict. The outcome of the U.S.-Russia talks remains uncertain, with analysts suggesting that real progress toward peace will require the inclusion of Ukraine in any future negotiations.
As the world watches closely, the upcoming discussions in Saudi Arabia could be pivotal in determining the future of U.S.-Russia relations and the ongoing war in Ukraine.