U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of scheduled talks with Russian officials aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These discussions are set to take place on Tuesday and are intended to pave the way for a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks will focus on ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine and restoring the broader spectrum of Russia-U.S. relations.
The U.S. delegation includes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The Russian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Putins foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov. These high-level meetings are among the first in-person discussions between Russian and U.S. officials in years, underscoring the significance of the diplomatic efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is also in the region, has expressed that Ukraine was not invited to these talks and has no plans to meet with Russian or U.S. officials during his visit. He emphasized that Ukraine cannot accept any agreements made without its participation.
The upcoming discussions in Riyadh are part of a broader diplomatic initiative to address the conflict in Ukraine, following recent communications between President Trump and President Putin. The outcomes of these talks could have significant implications for international relations and the future of the region.
