High-level US and Russian delegations held talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday over the fate of Ukraine, amid a three-year-long war. The negotiations, which took place without Ukrainian participation, marked a significant shift in diplomatic efforts between the two nations.
The talks were initiated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of the discussions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed the bilateral talks would take place in Riyadh on Tuesday, bringing an end to nearly three years of senior-level engagement between Moscow and Washington.
The meeting was seen as a significant development in efforts to broker peace in Ukraine, which has been embroiled in conflict since Russia’s 2014 invasion. US President Donald Trump had previously spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and their conversation was described by the State Department as the “second step” towards determining whether Russia is serious about ending the conflict.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism over the talks, stating that Ukraine “cannot acknowledge any agreements” struck without its participation. He also emphasized the need for Ukraine to be assured of NATO membership or a reliable alternative.
The White House has signaled potential terms for a deal in the lead-up to and during the Munich Security Conference in Germany last week. However, some officials have expressed concerns over unrealistic goals, including a return to Ukrainian borders before Russia’s 2014 invasion.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-russia-set-begin-high-stakes-talks-ukraines/story?id=118900923