Trump Calls Russia-US Discussions in Riyadh 'Constructive'
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Synopsis
US President Donald Trump highlighted the recent Russia-US talks in Riyadh as productive, enhancing his confidence in resolving the Ukraine crisis. The discussions, which lasted 4.5 hours, involved senior officials from both nations aiming for a negotiated end to the ongoing conflict.
Key Takeaways
- Trump expressed increased confidence in resolving the Ukraine crisis.
- Russia and the US are establishing teams for future negotiations.
- Dialogue aims to align positions on Ukraine.
- The Kremlin views this as a new diplomatic chapter.
- Concerns arise regarding the exclusion of allies from talks.
Riyadh, Feb 20 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump has labeled the recent Russia-US discussions in Riyadh as constructive, expressing an increased optimism regarding the resolution of the Ukraine crisis.
"I feel much more assured, they were very productive," he stated to reporters on Wednesday after enacting several new executive orders in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, according to TASS.
"Russia is eager to make progress. They aim to put an end to the brutal barbarism," he remarked.
On Tuesday, senior delegations from both the US and Russia convened for discussions in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, marking the beginning of crucial negotiations intended to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict.
The meeting followed a phone conversation last week between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in which both leaders committed to collaborating towards a negotiated resolution of the war.
The discussions in Riyadh on February 18 lasted for approximately 4.5 hours.
Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential aide Yury Ushakov, and Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
The US delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and the special envoy for the Middle East, Steven Witkoff.
Following the meeting on Tuesday, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce indicated that Rubio and Lavrov had agreed to "establish a foundation for future collaboration on matters of shared geopolitical significance and the historical economic opportunities that could arise from a successful resolution of the Ukraine conflict."
Bruce also mentioned that both nations would designate "high-level teams to start working on a strategy to conclude the conflict in Ukraine promptly, ensuring it is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all parties involved."
Ushakov noted that the delegations engaged in comprehensive discussions regarding aligning the positions of Russia and the United States, as well as communication about Ukraine.
Lavrov characterized the dialogue with US officials as extremely constructive and reported that both countries had agreed to expedite the appointment of ambassadors in their respective capitals.
The US Department of State highlighted that Lavrov and Rubio concurred on forming negotiation teams focused on Ukraine and future collaboration on mutual geopolitical interests.
This unexpected US-Russian warming has caught US allies in Europe and Ukraine by surprise, raising concerns about being excluded from discussions that could shape their futures.
Neither was allowed to participate in the talks in Saudi Arabia, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that Kyiv would not recognize any agreements made without their involvement.
Before the discussions, the Kremlin welcomed the opportunity, viewing it as a diplomatic chance to usher in a new phase of dialogue.
"From this point forward, our discussions will center on peace, not war," stated Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov in an interview broadcasted on state television.
Additionally, on the eve of the Riyadh meeting, Lavrov reminded that Trump and Putin had agreed to conclude this unusual period, during which Moscow and Washington had refrained from communication.
In a sign of this new cooperative spirit, the Kremlin confirmed on Monday that it had authorized the unilateral release of an American who had been detained with a minor amount of cannabis in his luggage at a Moscow airport earlier in the month.
