A dialogue between US and Russian delegations has begun in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the development in an official statement.
A Step toward renewed dialogue
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov led the discussions in what has been described as a “purely bilateral” engagement - excluding Ukrainian participation. Accompanied by national security adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Rubio met with Lavrov, who was joined by President Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov. Saudi officials, including Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and national security adviser Musaed al Alban, were present during the opening of the talks before bowing out early.
The dialogue comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s recent announcement, which hinted at negotiations with President Vladimir Putin to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. However, Ukrainian leaders have expressed strong reservations; President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that any agreement reached without Kyiv’s involvement would be unacceptable.
Context amid a protracted conflict
This high-stakes encounter represents a notable expansion of U.S.-Russian contacts nearly three years into a conflict that has strained relations to historic lows. Previous interactions—such as brief talks between Lavrov and then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a G-20 summit in India and covert spymaster meetings in Turkey—underscore the delicate, often secretive nature of diplomacy amid heightened concerns, including Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric amid battlefield setbacks.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, emphasized the broader implications of a thaw in U.S.-Russian relations. “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,” he told the Associated Press, noting that economic cooperation would be a focal point of discussions.
Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic ascendancy
The summit is also a showcase for Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a diplomatic hub in the Middle East. Hosted at Diriyah Palace—a venue steeped in regional history and situated near Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter—the meeting reflects Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s strategic ambition to place the kingdom at the center of global negotiations. Past initiatives, including prisoner exchanges and hosting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at an Arab League summit in 2023, have bolstered Riyadh’s international standing. For the Crown Prince, this event also helps counter lingering criticisms over past controversies, such as the 2018 Jamal Khashoggi incident.
Implications for the future
As the U.S. and Russia attempt to navigate a path toward de-escalation in Ukraine, the exclusion of Ukrainian voices remains a critical point of contention. The outcome of these talks could set the stage for a high-level meeting between President Trump and President Putin, potentially reshaping the diplomatic landscape. Meanwhile, European allies are mobilizing—France recently convened an emergency meeting with EU nations and the U.K. to discuss their collective response, amid fears that any deal reached without Ukraine’s consent might undermine international efforts to resolve the conflict.
While details of the discussions remain closely guarded, the Riyadh meeting underscores a moment of cautious optimism that renewed dialogue could eventually lead to tangible steps toward ending the war. The global community now watches as this new chapter in U.S.-Russian relations unfolds, with significant implications for regional and international stability.
Proliferating conflict zones are an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability, executives say, as carriers grapple with missiles and drones, airspace closures, location spoofing and the shoot-down of another passenger flight.
As Germany considers providing long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, military experts warn the move could enable Kyiv to strike targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow — a shift that could escalate tensions and draw NATO closer to direct confrontation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a delegation of senior officials to lead direct peace negotiations with Ukraine, but will not participate personally—despite proposing the talks himself.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated he would participate in upcoming talks on the war in Ukraine only if President Putin is also present, as diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. focus on securing a temporary ceasefire.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany and Poland met with Ukraine’s President in Kyiv to support a proposed 30-day ceasefire, amid diplomatic efforts involving the US and Europe aimed at reducing hostilities in the conflict with Russia.
In a rare direct call, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping addressed escalating trade tensions and a critical minerals dispute that threatens global supply chains. The hour-long conversation, which touched on tariffs, rare earth exports.
In a grey government building near Tiananmen Square, a small team within China’s Ministry of Commerce is quietly shaping the future of the global auto, aerospace, and tech industries—one export permit at a time. With rare earth magnets now under strict export control.
Armenia's unchecked mining pollution poses a severe environmental crisis, imperilling water resources and health across the South Caucasus, including Azerbaijan. Heavy metal contamination in shared rivers threatens ecosystems and human well-being, demanding urgent international action.
China approved 11.29 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power capacity in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing the 10.34 GW approved in the entire first half of 2024, according to a new report released by Greenpeace on Thursday.
President Donald Trump announced a "very good" phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, centred on the recently finalised trade deal and rare earth product agreements. Both leaders expressed optimism, and high-level delegations are set to meet soon.
As peace talks progress, voices from Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku reveal hopes, concerns, and expectations for a future shaped by trade, trust, and generational change in the South Caucasus.
A bridge collapse in the Vygonichsky district of Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border, caused a train derailment and a traffic accident early Sunday, killing at least seven people and leaving 30 injured, according to emergency services.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed it carried out a third targeted attack against the Crimean Bridge, also known as the Kerch Bridge, early Tuesday morning, marking a new escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake shook Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture early Monday, causing no reported injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued, officials confirmed.
Federal authorities have arrested 14 suspects in Los Angeles linked to an Armenian organized crime ring accused of stealing $30 million in COVID relief and Small Business loans intended to support American taxpayers.
In a rare direct call, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping addressed escalating trade tensions and a critical minerals dispute that threatens global supply chains. The hour-long conversation, which touched on tariffs, rare earth exports.
In a grey government building near Tiananmen Square, a small team within China’s Ministry of Commerce is quietly shaping the future of the global auto, aerospace, and tech industries—one export permit at a time. With rare earth magnets now under strict export control.
President Donald Trump announced a "very good" phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, centred on the recently finalised trade deal and rare earth product agreements. Both leaders expressed optimism, and high-level delegations are set to meet soon.
Greece and Egypt have committed to preserving the historic and spiritual status of St Catherine’s Monastery after a court ruling raised concerns about its future use and surrounding land.
A Ryanair flight from Berlin to Milan made an emergency landing in Germany after turbulence injured nine passengers during a thunderstorm.
In a rare direct call, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping addressed escalating trade tensions and a critical minerals dispute that threatens global supply chains. The hour-long conversation, which touched on tariffs, rare earth exports.
In a grey government building near Tiananmen Square, a small team within China’s Ministry of Commerce is quietly shaping the future of the global auto, aerospace, and tech industries—one export permit at a time. With rare earth magnets now under strict export control.
Armenia's unchecked mining pollution poses a severe environmental crisis, imperilling water resources and health across the South Caucasus, including Azerbaijan. Heavy metal contamination in shared rivers threatens ecosystems and human well-being, demanding urgent international action.
China approved 11.29 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power capacity in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing the 10.34 GW approved in the entire first half of 2024, according to a new report released by Greenpeace on Thursday.
President Donald Trump announced a "very good" phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, centred on the recently finalised trade deal and rare earth product agreements. Both leaders expressed optimism, and high-level delegations are set to meet soon.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment