US And Russia Hold Talks In Riyadh, Excluding Ukraine

In a significant diplomatic development, the United States and Russia have agreed to establish high-level teams to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. The talks, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marked a rare face-to-face meeting between top officials from both nations, but notably did not include Ukrainian representatives.

Diplomatic Shift and Concessions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that “concessions” would be necessary from all sides to bring the conflict to an end. This marked a shift in US policy, as previous approaches avoided direct negotiations with Moscow without Ukraine's involvement.

The US delegation, including Rubio, Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, suggested that this was the beginning of a series of discussions aimed at finding a resolution. When asked whether the US might accept Russia retaining Ukrainian territory annexed since 2022, Waltz acknowledged that the issue would be part of future talks.

“There will be discussions on territory and security guarantees. These are fundamental aspects that will shape any agreement,” Waltz stated.

Concerns Over Ukraine’s Exclusion

Ukraine has long maintained that peace negotiations should not take place without its involvement. However, with Kyiv absent from the Riyadh talks, concerns have grown over the possibility of a settlement being reached without Ukrainian consent.

The decision to proceed with the meeting just days after US President Donald Trump’s 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin has sparked concern in Kyiv and among its Western allies. European leaders quickly convened an emergency summit, reaffirming that Ukraine must be part of any diplomatic solution.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated that his country would not accept any terms dictated without its participation.

“Russia attacked Ukraine, and we had no choice but to defend ourselves,” Zelensky said in Ankara. “We will not surrender to ultimatums.”

A Shift in Russia’s Global Standing

The Riyadh talks also signified a potential end to Russia’s diplomatic isolation since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite launching a large-scale drone attack on Ukraine just hours before the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the discussions as “very useful.”

“We not only listened, but also heard each other,” Lavrov remarked.

The US and Russia have agreed to reestablish diplomatic communication, with Rubio suggesting that “extraordinary opportunities” could emerge if the war is brought to an end.

“The US could work with Russia on geopolitical issues of mutual interest and even economically,” Rubio stated.

Witkoff described the meeting as “positive and constructive,” though it remains unclear what, if any, concrete agreements were made.

As discussions continue, the global community watches closely to see whether Ukraine will be included in future negotiations—or if major decisions about its future will be made without it.