21 Feb: The United States and Russia have engaged in their first high-level diplomatic talks since the Ukraine war began, fueling concerns over Moscow’s reintegration into global diplomacy while leaving Ukraine out of critical negotiations.
US-Russia Move Towards Diplomacy
Top officials from both nations met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss pathways to end the Ukraine conflict and rebuild US-Russia ties. Representing the US were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov led Moscow’s delegation.
Following the meeting, Rubio announced that both sides agreed to form high-level teams to negotiate a potential settlement. He also suggested that ending the war could pave the way for broader cooperation between the US and Russia on global issues.
However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly opposed the discussions, stating that any settlement must not be imposed on Kyiv, especially as Ukraine has already lost nearly 20% of its territory to Russia.
Trump’s Influence and Shift in US Policy
The talks come just days after former US President Donald Trump’s direct conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a major shift in US policy away from isolating Moscow. Trump expressed confidence in brokering a peace deal, stating, “Russia wants to do something. This should have ended long ago.”
Zelenskyy, however, criticized Washington’s engagement with Moscow, arguing that it is helping Russia escape isolation. “This isn’t positive for Ukraine. It’s bringing Putin back into global discussions,” Zelenskyy said.
Mending US-Russia Relations Amid Sanctions
At the Riyadh talks, both nations agreed to accelerate the appointment of new ambassadors and work towards lifting diplomatic restrictions. Russia emphasized the need to restore normal diplomatic functions between Moscow and Washington, which had been severely damaged by sanctions and diplomatic expulsions following the invasion of Ukraine.
The US and its allies have imposed over 21,000 sanctions on Russia since 2022, leading to a $324 billion financial loss for American companies that exited the Russian market. Russian economic officials now expect some US businesses to return in 2025.
Ukraine and NATO Excluded from Talks
Notably absent from the discussions were Ukraine and Washington’s NATO allies. Zelenskyy voiced his frustration, emphasizing that Ukraine had been left out of key conversations. “The Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia came as a surprise to us, just as it did to many others,” he said.
While both Russia and the US acknowledged that concessions would be necessary to achieve peace, Ukraine has remained firm in rejecting any imposed settlement. Meanwhile, European nations have expressed concern over being sidelined, particularly as Trump has pushed for NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, significantly higher than the 2% commitment made in 2014.
Russia Seeks an End to Sanctions and G7 Reinstatement
For Russia, the diplomatic thaw provides an opportunity to push for the removal of economic sanctions, particularly the price cap on Russian oil exports. Trump has also backed Moscow’s return to the G7, signaling further shifts in global power dynamics.
Lavrov praised Trump’s diplomatic approach, stating, “He is the first and only Western leader who has openly acknowledged NATO’s role in fueling the Ukraine crisis.”
Trump-Putin Summit on the Horizon?
While no official date has been set, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov hinted that Trump and Putin could meet as early as this month. Trump himself suggested during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago that a face-to-face meeting with Putin could take place in the coming weeks.
With Ukraine growing increasingly isolated from peace talks and Europe watching with concern, the diplomatic realignment between Washington and Moscow is set to reshape global geopolitics in the months ahead.
