The United States and Russia have commenced efforts to end the war in Ukraine and rebuild their diplomatic and economic relations, marking a dramatic shift in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
The development follows high-level discussions in Saudi Arabia, where top diplomats from both nations outlined steps towards renewed engagement, reports the AFP.
Speaking after the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the two sides had broadly agreed on three key objectives: Restoring full diplomatic staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, establishing a high-level task force to support Ukraine peace talks, and exploring economic cooperation.
However, he acknowledged that these discussions were only the beginning of a longer process.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed Rubio’s sentiments, describing the discussions as "very useful."
He emphasised that both parties had not only spoken but had "truly heard each other." The meeting included Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Special Middle East Envoy Steven Witkoff, alongside Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
Ukraine’s exclusion and EU's concerns
Notably absent from the discussions was any Ukrainian representation, a fact that has provoked criticism from Kyiv and key European allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy categorically rejected any outcome from the talks, stating that his government would not recognise decisions made in its absence. In response, he postponed a scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia.
Concerns have also been raised in European capitals, with France convening an emergency meeting of EU and UK representatives to discuss the implications of Washington’s evolving approach to the conflict.
The shift represents a stark departure from the policies pursued under Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, who had spearheaded efforts to isolate Moscow.
Trump, however, dismissed Ukraine’s concerns, asserting that Kyiv’s leaders had "never should have allowed the war to begin," implying that concessions to Moscow could have prevented the 2022 invasion.
“You should have ended it three years ago,” he remarked during a press conference in Florida.
“You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
Recalibrating US-Russia relations
Relations between Washington and Moscow have been at their lowest ebb since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, a rift that deepened following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The US and European allies imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia in response, while diplomatic ties were further strained by tit-for-tat expulsions of officials.
Rubio suggested that resolving the war in Ukraine could unlock opportunities for broader US-Russia collaboration on global issues.
He noted that while Washington remains committed to consulting allies, meaningful negotiations would ultimately require direct engagement with Moscow.
US officials, however, remain cautious about the scope of any potential agreement.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently stated that NATO membership for Ukraine was "unrealistic" and implied that Kyiv might have to reconsider its territorial claims—two key Russian demands.
Prospects for a Trump-Putin summit
The Riyadh talks are seen as a precursor to a possible summit between Trump and Putin, although no date has been set.
Ushakov suggested that a meeting next week was "unlikely," while Waltz indicated that discussions could be arranged in the coming weeks.
Lavrov confirmed that Moscow and Washington would appoint representatives to conduct "regular consultations" on Ukraine. “I have reason to believe that the American side has started to better understand our position,” he remarked.
Saudi Arabia’s growing diplomatic role
The venue for the discussions—Diriyah Palace in Riyadh—underscores Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambition to position Saudi Arabia as a global diplomatic heavyweight.
The kingdom, which has maintained close ties with Russia through the OPEC+ oil alliance, has previously facilitated prisoner exchanges and hosted Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit in 2023.
Saudi state media emphasised that the talks took place at the prince’s behest.
However, Zelenskyy’s decision to postpone his visit to Saudi Arabia suggests a deliberate effort to distance himself from the negotiations.
Yet war rages on
Despite diplomatic overtures, Russia has continued its relentless military campaign in Ukraine. Kyiv’s military reported that Russian forces launched 176 drones overnight, most of which were intercepted.
However, one drone struck a residential building in the Kirovohrad region, injuring a mother and her two children and forcing the evacuation of dozens of families.
With Ukraine excluded from talks and European allies wary of a Washington-Moscow rapprochement, the diplomatic path forward remains fraught with uncertainty.
While the latest discussions mark a significant shift in US policy, whether they will lead to a lasting resolution to the war remains to be seen.
