Russian Diplomats Visit Riyadh for Trump-Putin Preparations
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Synopsis
On Feb 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and aide Yuri Ushakov are en route to Riyadh to collaborate with US officials. The meeting aims to facilitate discussions between President Trump and President Putin about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, excluding European leaders from negotiations.
Key Takeaways
- Lavrov and Ushakov are in Riyadh to meet US officials.
- The focus is on the Trump-Putin meeting.
- Europe is excluded from negotiations on the Ukraine conflict.
- Germany expresses dissatisfaction over its exclusion.
- US-Russia relations are a priority for both parties.
Moscow, Feb 17 (NationPress) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov are traveling to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to engage with a US delegation that includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Tuesday. This meeting aims to set the stage for the eagerly awaited discussions between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin regarding the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, "At President Putin's request, Lavrov and Ushakov are departing for Riyadh today. Their primary focus will be on reinstating the full breadth of US-Russia relations."
In support of the decision to exclude the European Union from the upcoming meeting, Lavrov expressed doubts about the role of European leaders in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, suggesting that Brussels has a vested interest in prolonging the conflict.
"I am unclear about the contribution of European officials at the negotiation table. If their intent is merely to extend the war, then their presence is unwarranted," Lavrov remarked during a media briefing in Moscow on Monday.
Meanwhile, Germany has voiced its displeasure over being left out of the discussions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, suggested that Germany should reflect on the reasons for this exclusion.
The developments at the Munich Security Conference indicate that the US will not permit Europe to interfere in resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. European leaders have also expressed their dissatisfaction regarding their exclusion.
Lavrov and Rubio held a phone conversation on Saturday to cover various topics, including the upcoming meeting between President Putin and President Trump. They agreed to keep communication open to address the longstanding issues in US-Russian relations and to eliminate existing barriers to mutually beneficial trade, economic, and investment cooperation, as stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
