US-Russia talks in Riyadh conclude: Moscow opens to possibility of negotiations on Ukraine. Russia and US ready to form teams for dialogue

At the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the US Secretary of State met Marco Rubio, the Saudi Foreign Minister, the Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Saudi national security advisor Mosad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, the envoy Steve Witkoff, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and foreign policy adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov.

After four and a half hours of discussions, the talks between the US and Russian delegations on the crisis in Ukraine concludedThe meeting, held in the Saudi capital, It was described as “positive” by the Kremlin's diplomatic advisor, Yuri Ushakov, which confirmed Russia's intention to start negotiations with the United States “in due time".

Next steps and top-level teams

At the end of the first phase of interviews, Washington has announced that both sides will appoint “high-level” teams to continue negotiations on ending the conflict. Tuttavia, Ushakov clarified that it will be Russian President Vladimir Putin who will decide when such meetings will actually take place.. "The Americans should nominate their representatives, we will nominate ours and then the work will proceed.“, Ushakov told Russian state television.

The possibility of a Trump-Putin meeting

According to Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are “unlikely” to meet next weekThe issue remains open and will be the subject of further diplomatic planning.

Russia and the United States: Dialogue in Continuous Evolution

IThe Russian Foreign Ministry, through spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, acknowledged that the US administration is showing "serious intentions" in wanting to solve problems in bilateral relations, including tensions over the war in Ukraine. However, Moscow reiterated that it would not accept “any territorial concessions” in the context of any agreement..

The role of the European Union in the negotiations

While the US and Russia seek direct dialogue, Europe is divided on the issue of sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine. The recent Paris summit ended yesterday, Monday 17 February, without a common position. In addition, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko ruled out the possibility of European involvement in future negotiations, accusing the EU of wanting to prolong the conflict. rather than favoring a diplomatic solution.

Putin open to dialogue with Zelensky, but with reservations

The Kremlin also said that Putin would be open to negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but has raised doubts about its legitimacy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Zelensky’s term ended in May 2024 without new elections due to martial law, complicating any potential formal agreement.

Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO: Moscow's position

Moscow reiterated that it does not oppose Ukraine's accession to the European Union, recognizing Kiev's sovereign right to decide its own economic and political future. Tuttavia, categorically excluded the possibility of joining NATO, believing that this would compromise Russia's security. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has in fact specified that “As for Ukraine's accession to the EU, this is a sovereign right of any country. No one has the right to dictate the conduct of another country, la The situation is completely different when it comes to security issues and military alliances. Our approach in this case is different and well known".

The talks in Riyadh are a first step toward a possible dialogue between Russia and the United States on the war in Ukraine.a. However, the road to an agreement remains complex, with numerous diplomatic and strategic hurdles to overcome.

As Moscow and Washington prepare their negotiating teams, it remains to be seen whether and when more substantive talks will begin. on the end of the conflict.