Russian and US delegations have begun high-level talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at restoring diplomatic relations and paving the way for a settlement of the Ukraine conflict.
The meeting in Riyadh is attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, and Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). The US is represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for the Middle East.
Neither Ukraine nor its EU backers are taking part in the talks. In the run-up to the meeting, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky signaled that Kiev was not invited and that it “considers any negotiations about Ukraine that are being held without Ukraine as having no results.”
Russian officials previously said the key goals of the talks include “restoring the entire complex of Russian-American relations,” as well as “preparing for possible negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement” and laying the groundwork for a summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump.
The high-stakes talks became possible after a phone call between Trump and Putin last week. Following the conversation, Trump said he does not think it is “practical” for Ukraine to join NATO, adding that Kiev has very little chance of regaining territory that has become part of Russia over the past decade.
Moscow has said the conflict can only be sustainably resolved if Ukraine commits to permanent neutrality, demilitarization, denazification, and recognizes the territorial reality on the ground.
Musk reacts to upcoming US-Russia talks
Billionaire Elon Musk, a major ally of US President Donald Trump, has welcomed the arrival of a Russian delegation in Saudi Arabia ahead of the first direct Russian-US negotiations over the Ukraine conflict.
The Tesla, SpaceX, and X owner reposted an excerpt from a Russian news segment about the arrival of the delegation led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh. “This is what competent leadership looks like,” he wrote on X.
In a video shared by Musk, journalist Evgeny Popov asked Yury Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin’s top foreign policy aide, about the mood ahead of talks on Tuesday local time.
“We will see. The most important thing right now is to begin a real normalization of relations between us and Washington,” Ushakov told Popov on the tarmac.
This is what competent leadership looks like https://t.co/frZrdhsEzZ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025
Musk, who donated 20,000 Starlink internet terminals to Ukraine in 2022, has since advocated against further escalation between Russia and the US. “We are sleepwalking our way into World War III with one foolish decision after the other,” Musk said in 2023.
The meeting on Tuesday will be the first in-person US-Russian negotiations since Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine in 2022.
While the administration of former US President Joe Biden pursued a policy of “isolating” Russia on the world stage, Trump has vowed to quickly mediate an end to the conflict and criticized his predecessor for abandoning diplomacy in favor unconditional military support for Kiev. President Vladimir Putin said last year that the campaign to isolate Russia “has failed,” given Moscow’s deepening ties with major economies outside of Europe and North America, including China, India, and Brazil.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammd bin Salman on Monday and is expected to meet with Lavrov.
Trump spoke with Putin over the phone on February 12, angering Ukraine’s EU backers, who were blindsided by the conversation.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has said Kiev will “not recognize” any negotiations that take place without his approval. He acknowledged, however, that Ukraine has a “low chance” of winning without American support.
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