Top Russian officials are set to meet with their U.S. counterparts in Saudi Arabia this week, the Kremlin announced Monday, as discussions around potential peace talks to end the war in Ukraine gain momentum.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov will travel to Riyadh later on Monday for talks scheduled on Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on Monday he would be in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, but that his trip was unrelated to the U.S.-Russia meeting.
Zelensky said those talks would "yield no results" without Kyiv's participation.
Why It Matters
The talks in Riyadh signal a potential thaw in U.S.-Russia relations after years of tension following Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, upending years of American foreign policy that has alarmed NATO allies.
Saudi Arabia, which has positioned itself as a key diplomatic player in global affairs, has stepped in as a neutral host for the discussions. The kingdom previously facilitated prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia.
What To Know
The discussions will focus on reviving U.S.-Russia relations, potential negotiations on Ukraine, and preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed Israel for Saudi Arabia Monday. When asked during an appearance on Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation who he would be speaking to there, Rubio said, "Nothing's been finalized yet. I was scheduled to be in Saudi Arabia anyways."
Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz will also head to Saudi Arabia, Witkoff said on Fox News Sunday.
Last week, Trump hinted at a possible meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia, following a phone call between the two leaders.
"One phone call does not solve a war as complex as this one," Rubio said on Face the Nation. "But I can tell you that Donald Trump is the only leader in the world that could potentially begin that process."
After the call with Putin, Trump called Zelensky to inform him of the conversation, and on Sunday told reporters that Kyiv's leader would "be involved," but didn't elaborate.
Ukraine and Europe have demanded a role in any peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Zelensky arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) late Sunday, landing in Abu Dhabi after attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany. He was joined by first lady Olena Zelenska.
The UAE, home to many Russian and Ukrainian expatriates, has been considered a possible venue for peace negotiations, given its past role in prisoner exchanges.
"Our top priority is bringing more of our people home from captivity," Zelensky's office stated, adding that discussions will also focus on investment, economic partnerships, and a large-scale humanitarian program.
The UAE's state-run WAM news agency did not immediately report on his arrival, AP reported, which was unusual.
What People Are Saying
Professor Valerie Sperling, an expert on Russian politics and gender studies at Clark University, told Newsweek: "For the past three years, since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin has been seen as a pariah by the U.S. administration and the leaders of nearly all of the other NATO member states. In that sense, Trump's willingness to talk with Putin legitimizes him to a certain extent, or at least is an attempt to change the narrative.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in a February 14 post on X, formerly Twitter, said: "There can be no talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine."
What Happens Next
A delegation from Kyiv is in Saudi Arabia to pave the way for a possible visit by Zelensky, a Ukrainian official said.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press
Update, 2/17/25, 7:40 a.m. ET: This article and its headline have been updated with additional information.
About the writer
Daniel Orton is an editor on the live news team at Newsweek, based in London, U.K. He was previously a ... Read more