Riad – The diplomatic relations between the US and Russia are showing the first signs of thawing after years of frost. The two sides have agreed to hold regular consultations on Ukraine and to name negotiation teams swiftly. This was confirmed by high-ranking officials from both countries on Monday evening in Riad.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov emphasized that they had agreed to establish a structured negotiation process in the near future. “As soon as the US names their delegation, we will promptly establish our representative” Lavrov said.
The talks, as reported, were marked by a constructive tone: “We did not just listen, but also understood each other” it was said.
US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio underscored the importance of national interests of both states in this dialogue. “Russia and the US must work together in geopolitical and economic matters” he said.
According to Lavrov, there are signs that Washington is now more open to Russia’s position than in the past.
Agreement on diplomatic normalization
In addition to the Ukraine talks, the two sides agreed to restock the personnel of their diplomatic missions in Moscow and Washington, thereby restoring the operational capacity of the embassies after years of restrictions and mutual expulsions.
At the same time, Lavrov denied reports of a supposed agreement on a three-stage plan to resolve the Ukraine conflict. “We have not confirmed such information” he said. A central demand of Moscow remains the prevention of a direct NATO military engagement in Ukraine, even under the guise of EU or national contingents.
Another topic was economic cooperation. Russia and the US have agreed to remove obstacles to mutually beneficial trade relations. According to US sources, a bilateral moratorium proposal on attacks on energy infrastructure was also on the agenda. In this context, Lavrov referred to recent drone attacks by Kiev on an oil pumping station in Krasnodar. “Such attacks not only endanger Russia but also the energy security of Kazakhstan” he emphasized.
The Russian delegation, consisting of Foreign Minister Lavrov and Putin’s advisor Yuri Ushakov, arrived in Riad on Monday. The US side will be represented by Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, Security Advisor Mike Waltz and the Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
The meeting is the result of an initiative by the Trump administration, which aims to revive the diplomatic dialogue with Russia after years of tensions. A 90-minute phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin last week paved the way for these negotiations.
According to Rubio, it is too early to speak of concrete results, particularly in terms of a possible lifting of sanctions against Russia. However, he emphasized that the conversation between Trump and Putin cannot alone resolve the complex Ukraine conflict and therefore further diplomatic steps are necessary.
Zelensky stands against talks without Ukraine
The Ukrainian leadership views the talks in Riad with skepticism. Volodymyr Zelensky stated that his country was not invited to the talks and that any results achieved without direct Ukrainian involvement would be considered “null and void.” Officially, he will also visit Saudi Arabia, but without a direct connection to the ongoing talks.
Putin made it clear to Trump that Russia is not interested in a mere ceasefire, but rather in a fundamental solution to the conflict. Moscow’s core demands remain Ukraine’s neutrality, its demilitarization and the recognition of the territorial reality.
The negotiation teams will now submit the results of the Riad meeting to their presidents, who will decide on the further course of action.