U.S.-Russia Talks in Saudi Arabia Set to Go Beyond Ukraine

Senior American and Russian officials held extensive negotiations in Saudi Arabia for over four hours on Tuesday, marking the most significant talks between the two countries in at least three years. President Trump aims to end the war in Ukraine, while the Kremlin seeks closer ties with Washington.

The State Department announced that both parties agreed to establish “high-level teams” to work towards resolving the conflict in Ukraine promptly and in a way that is sustainable and acceptable to all sides.

Prior to the discussions in Riyadh, Russian officials expressed their intent to normalize relations with the United States, hinting at the possibility of major American oil companies resuming operations in Russia.

The developments were closely watched by Ukraine and Europe, with concerns that President Trump may negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine favoring Russia.

Following a lengthy phone call between President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia just a week earlier, the meeting in Saudi Arabia adjourned briefly for noon prayers before resuming.

President Trump stated that they discussed the potential benefits of working together and agreed to commence negotiations immediately to end the conflict in Ukraine.

The U.S. delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov and Mr. Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov.

The discussions took place at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, with Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, expected to join later in the day.

Mr. Ushakov stated to reporters upon arrival in Riyadh that the objective of the talks was to initiate a genuine normalization of relations between Moscow and Washington.

Mr. Dmitriev, who collaborated with Mr. Witkoff to secure the release of an American schoolteacher detained in Russia, expressed his intention to revitalize economic cooperation with the U.S. to rebuild communication, trust, and success.

He highlighted the potential for American oil majors to re-engage in business ventures in Russia, emphasizing the lucrative opportunities that existed before their withdrawal amid the Ukraine crisis.

Energy and economic partnerships were key topics in the recent call between Mr. Putin and President Trump, according to statements from both sides.

Russian analysts are hopeful that talks with the Trump administration and a potential peace agreement in Ukraine could lead to the lifting of sanctions imposed by the Biden administration.

Mr. Dmitriev aimed to engage with the Trump team by addressing the president’s focus on profitability and natural resources.

He planned to present an estimate to the American delegation, demonstrating the significant financial losses incurred by U.S. companies due to their exit from Russia.

Tuesday’s discussions marked the first substantial meeting between senior American and Russian officials since the start of Mr. Putin’s invasion in 2022.

The meeting signifies another step in President Trump’s efforts to end Russia’s diplomatic isolation enforced by former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. post-invasion, with the goal of halting the ongoing war.

Senator Rubio emphasized the necessity of engaging with Russia for potential progress towards peace, acknowledging the importance of dialogue.

However, the news of the talks has elicited mixed reactions in Europe and Ukraine, with concerns raised about the lack of coordination with U.S. allies and Ukrainian exclusion from negotiations concerning their country.

President Zelensky of Ukraine asserted that any agreements made about Ukraine without their involvement would not be recognized.

President Zelensky was scheduled to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey in Ankara on Tuesday.

Ukrainian officials noted that President Zelensky would also be in Saudi Arabia this week, although Ukraine was not invited to participate in the U.S.-Russia talks. The Kremlin adviser, Mr. Ushakov, confirmed that there were no plans for trilateral discussions involving Ukraine.

The talks were focused on negotiations between the U.S. and Russian delegations.

Hosting the talks provided Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia with an opportunity to strengthen his global leadership status and promote peace and security worldwide.

The Saudis, in a statement from the Foreign Ministry, expressed their commitment to enhancing global security and peace through hosting the Russian and American officials.

Similar to other Middle Eastern nations, Saudi Arabia has maintained neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine while nurturing relations with Russia.

During a Ukraine peace conference last June that excluded Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE declined to sign the final joint statement.

Senior Saudi officials, including the foreign minister and national security adviser, participated in the meeting alongside American and Russian representatives.

Reporting contributed by Andrew E. Kramer from Kyiv, Ukraine.