US and Russian officials are meeting in Saudi Arabia for their most extensive discussions in years. President Trump is pushing to end the war in Ukraine, while the Kremlin seeks warmer ties with Washington. The talks come after a lengthy phone call between Mr. Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
The US delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, includes National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, and officials from the Department of Energy. Russian officials include Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov, Foreign Policy Adviser Yuri Ushakov, and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund Kirill Dmitriev.
The goal of the talks is to start a “normalization” of US-Russia relations, with Mr. Ushakov stating that the objective is to begin rebuilding communication and trust between the two countries. The talks also cover business ties, including the potential return of major American oil companies to Russia.
European officials have expressed concern about the lack of coordination with allies, while Ukrainian officials have said they will reject any agreements made without their involvement. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has stated that Ukraine cannot recognize any agreements made about its country without Ukrainian participation.
The meeting is another step in Mr. Trump’s bid to end Russia’s diplomatic isolation and stop the war in Ukraine. The outcome of the talks remains uncertain, but the discussions mark a significant shift in US-Russia relations.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/world/europe/us-russia-saudi-ukraine.html