Russia and the United States have agreed to form negotiating teams to explore a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, a move that has sparked criticism from Kyiv over its exclusion, according to AFP.
Washington acknowledged that European nations would need to be included in discussions “at some point,” following the first high-level diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Russia since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Concerns have arisen among European leaders, especially in light of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s shift in policy toward Russia. Some fear Washington might make substantial concessions, potentially altering Europe’s security framework in a manner reminiscent of Cold War-era agreements.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Ukraine’s exclusion from the talks held in Riyadh, which lasted over four hours. He stressed that any peace negotiations should be “fair” and include European nations, particularly Turkey, which has offered to host future discussions.
“Proceeding without Ukraine will only encourage Putin further,” a senior Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, told AFP.
During the meeting, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to “appoint respective high-level teams to begin working on a path to ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible,” according to a U.S. State Department statement.
Additionally, Washington indicated that both sides had agreed to create a “consultation mechanism” to address ongoing tensions in U.S.-Russia relations and establish groundwork for potential future cooperation.
Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed the establishment of negotiating teams but emphasized that setting a date for a potential Trump-Putin meeting remained “difficult.”
Diplomatic Shifts and European Concerns
The meeting marks a significant diplomatic achievement for Moscow, which had faced international isolation during former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.
Russia’s economic envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, argued that efforts to isolate Moscow had “clearly failed,” underscoring the significance of the talks.
“We didn’t just listen; we understood each other. I believe the American side now has a better grasp of our position,” Lavrov told reporters.
He reiterated Russia’s opposition to the deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire arrangement, a topic that has divided European allies.
This week, European nations expressed differing views on whether to send troops to Ukraine to support peace efforts. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signaled openness to deploying British soldiers, while French President Emmanuel Macron clarified that France was not preparing to send combat troops but was considering dispatching “experts or limited forces outside conflict zones.”
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the idea as “premature.”
Macron announced plans to host further discussions involving both European and non-European nations, following an emergency meeting in Paris earlier this week.
Russia’s Perspective on Future Negotiations
Moscow has outlined its stance on the conflict, insisting that any resolution should involve restructuring Europe’s security architecture. Russia has long sought the withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe, viewing the alliance’s presence near its borders as a strategic threat.
Before its invasion in 2022, Moscow had demanded that NATO reduce its footprint in Central and Eastern Europe—a request that was rejected by the West.
As discussions unfold, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned against falling into Russia’s diplomatic maneuvers. In a message to Rubio on X (formerly Twitter), she cautioned, “Let’s not walk into their traps,” emphasizing that peace must be achieved “on Ukraine’s terms.”
Rubio, in turn, briefed key European ministers on the Riyadh discussions, acknowledging that Europe’s involvement would be necessary.
“The European Union has imposed sanctions on Russia, so they will need to be part of these discussions at some stage,” Rubio stated.
Initiating the Peace Process
The negotiations in Riyadh took place without any visible handshakes, symbolizing the cautious and complex nature of the diplomatic engagement.
Both Russia and the U.S. have characterized the talks as the beginning of what could be a lengthy negotiation process, downplaying the likelihood of immediate breakthroughs.
While Trump has stated his desire to end the war, he has yet to present a concrete plan.
The U.S. has made it clear that compromises will be necessary from both sides if a peace agreement is to be reached. However, on the eve of the talks, Russia reaffirmed that it had no intention of relinquishing any Ukrainian territory it has seized.
The Kremlin also stated that while Ukraine has the “right” to pursue European Union membership, it firmly opposes its integration into NATO.
Putin has expressed a willingness to negotiate with Zelensky “if necessary,” but the Russian government has questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of his five-year presidential term, despite Ukrainian laws allowing leadership continuity during wartime.
Meanwhile, Zelensky traveled to Turkey for discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on the ongoing conflict and possible diplomatic initiatives.
