Senior Russian and U.S. officers met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to debate enhancing relations and an finish to Moscow’s warfare in Ukraine – with out representatives from Kyiv.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Overseas Minister Sergey Lavrov led the delegations that met on the Diriyah Palace in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh.
Rubio was accompanied by Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz and Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff, whereas Lavrov introduced alongside the Kremlin’s international affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov.
Saudi Arabian Overseas Minister Faisal bin Farhan and nationwide safety advisor Musaed al Alban had been current for the beginning of the assembly however had been anticipated to go away early within the talks.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, middle, sits subsequent to U.S. Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz, proper, and U.S. Center East envoy Steve Witkoff, left, throughout a gathering with Russian officers in Saudi Arabia, Feb. 18, 2025. (AP)
Ukrainian officers aren’t collaborating in Tuesday’s assembly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Monday that Kyiv is not going to settle for the end result if his nation will not be in attendance on the assembly.
The assembly symbolizes one other vital step by the Trump administration to reverse U.S. coverage on isolating Russia. The occasion was meant to result in a gathering between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks throughout a press convention on the Ukraine peace summit in Obbürgen, Switzerland, on June 16, 2024. (AP Picture/Laurent Cipriani)
Final week, Trump upended U.S. coverage towards Ukraine and Russia, stating that he and Putin had agreed to start negotiations on ending the warfare, which started in February 2022.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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