Senior American and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss ending the nearly three-year war in Ukraine—without any representatives from Kyiv, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy.
The meeting, held at Riyadh’s historic Diriyah Palace, marked a significant expansion of diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow, as the Trump administration pushes forward with its strategy to bring the war to a close.
Leading the U.S. delegation was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, joined by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. They sat across from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov. The Saudi hosts, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, facilitated the discussions but were expected to exit early.
The exclusion of Ukrainian officials from the talks has sparked outrage in Kyiv and among European leaders, who have long adhered to the principle of “nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear on Monday that his government would not recognize any deal negotiated without its involvement. But U.S. officials dismissed the criticism, insisting that this was not a formal negotiation, but rather a preliminary discussion aimed at laying the groundwork for future diplomacy.
“There are thousands of people who have given their lives [for Ukraine]. Does anybody really believe that the United States would negotiate an agreement with a European nation that’s done what they’ve done on the battlefield—and not be at the table?” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told reporters in Kyiv ahead of the meeting. “Of course they will, and you’ll see that in the coming weeks and months.”
Trump Administration Reverses U.S. Approach to Russia
The meeting is the latest sign of the Trump administration’s shift away from the Biden-era strategy of isolating Russia. Former defense intelligence officer Rebekah Koffler explained on Fox & Friends First that Trump is pursuing a diplomatic path to “bring peace to Ukraine” after years of devastation.
Koffler also pointed out that while Zelenskyy was not invited to the talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated he will only negotiate with “some legitimate authority,” arguing that Zelenskyy’s presidency effectively expired in May.
The talks are widely seen as a stepping stone toward a potential face-to-face meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin has signaled a willingness to engage, and the Trump administration appears determined to explore all diplomatic options, despite backlash from European allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron reacted swiftly to the meeting, calling for an emergency gathering of European Union leaders and the United Kingdom to discuss the implications. “We seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine. To achieve this, Russia must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians,” Macron posted on X.
Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg is set to travel to Kyiv later this week to hold consultations with Ukrainian officials. His trip is expected to reassure Ukrainian leadership that Washington has not abandoned their interests, even as direct talks between U.S. and Russian officials continue.
A New Diplomatic Chapter?
This is not the first time American and Russian officials have met since the war began in 2022. Lavrov and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke briefly on the sidelines of a G-20 summit in India last year, and U.S. and Russian intelligence officials met in Turkey in late 2022 to discuss concerns about Moscow’s potential use of nuclear weapons. However, Tuesday’s talks in Riyadh represent the most formal engagement between the two nations since the war began.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a key Kremlin advisor, emphasized the importance of renewed U.S.-Russia relations in an interview with the Associated Press. “Good U.S.-Russia relations are very important for the whole world. Only jointly can Russia and the U.S. address lots of world problems, resolve global conflicts, and offer solutions,” Dmitriev said.
With the Trump administration now actively seeking diplomatic solutions, the coming months will determine whether these discussions pave the way for a negotiated settlement—or deepen divisions among Ukraine’s allies.