Washington announced that Russia and the United States will designate teams to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine as soon as feasible. This development occurred during a meeting on Tuesday, February 18, in Saudi Arabia, which did not include representatives from Kyiv or the European Union. However, the discussions in Riyadh did not yield any details regarding a potential meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, marking the first significant official talks between Washington and Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Some European leaders, concerned about Trump’s shift in U.S. policy towards Russia, worry that Washington may make substantial concessions to Moscow, potentially reshaping the continent’s security framework in a manner reminiscent of Cold War agreements between superpowers.
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reached an agreement to “appoint respective high-level teams to initiate discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine as promptly as possible,” according to the State Department. Washington further indicated that both parties had consented to “establish a consultation mechanism” to tackle “irritants” affecting the relationship between Russia and the United States, emphasizing that they would work towards laying the foundation for future collaboration. In comments to the press following their meeting, Rubio stated that “the objective is to conclude this conflict [in Ukraine] in a manner that is fair, lasting, sustainable, and acceptable to all involved parties.”
Rubio emphasized the necessity for European nations to participate in discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict, stating, “Other parties have imposed sanctions on Russia, and the European Union will need to be included in the negotiations eventually, as they have sanctions in place too.” The day prior, European leaders convened an emergency meeting in Paris but found it challenging to present a unified stance. He highlighted that these discussions represent the initial phase of dialogue, indicating that further efforts are required in the future.
Russia provided limited information regarding the discussions, stating, “We have exchanged and clarified our fundamental positions and agreed that dedicated teams of negotiators will communicate on this matter in due course.” Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Putin on foreign policy, noted, “It remains challenging to specify a date for a meeting between the two leaders.”
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Russia outlined its views on potential negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine, asserting that a resolution necessitates a restructuring of Europe’s defense agreements. Moscow has consistently advocated for the withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe, perceiving the alliance as a significant threat to its security. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked to reporters on Tuesday, “A sustainable and long-term solution cannot be achieved without a thorough examination of security concerns across the continent.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his disapproval of the US-Russia discussions that do not include Kyiv, emphasizing that any initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict must be equitable and incorporate European nations, including Turkey. His remarks followed a nearly three-hour dialogue with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Zelensky stated, “Ukraine, along with Europe broadly defined—which encompasses the European Union, Turkey, and the UK—should participate in discussions and the formulation of essential security assurances with the United States concerning the future of our region.”
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