Top U.S. and Russian officials met at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, along with security advisors from both nations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin’s advisor Yuri Ushakov also joined the high-level discussions. AP Photo
Top U.S. and Russian officials held over four hours of talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. The meeting did not include Ukraine or the European Union, raising concerns about the ongoing war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, along with other officials.
This discussion followed a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump’s decision to engage directly with Russia has unsettled European leaders and sparked debate over the next steps in the war. He has repeatedly stated that he wants to end the nearly three-year-long conflict in Ukraine.
However, Ukraine was not invited to the Riyadh talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, seemingly upset, postponed his planned visit to Saudi Arabia. Reports suggest that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wanted Ukraine involved, but both the U.S. and Russia preferred to meet alone.
Former Ukrainian economy minister Tymofiy Mylovanov expressed his frustration on social media, stating that Zelenskyy was “pissed off” about being excluded. Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine will not accept any peace agreement made without its involvement.
After the meeting, Rubio said both nations had agreed to work towards ending the conflict and improving U.S.-Russia relations. However, Putin’s advisor, Yuri Ushakov, mentioned that there is no confirmed date for a Trump-Putin meeting.
Trump, speaking from his Florida residence, suggested a meeting with Putin could happen this month. He also blamed Ukraine for not ending the war earlier, stating that Kyiv could have made a deal years ago to avoid the ongoing conflict.
This stance has caused alarm among European allies, who worry Trump may weaken U.S. support for Ukraine. Evelyn Farkas, a former Pentagon official, warned that Ukraine could reject any deal imposed by the U.S. and Russia. She suggested that if Ukraine’s defenses collapse, the American public might not want to bear responsibility for the consequences.
Ukraine Responds, War Continues
Rubio denied that Ukraine was being sidelined. He said there would be future discussions involving Ukraine, European partners, and other allies. After the Riyadh talks, Rubio briefed diplomats from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.
Meanwhile, fighting continues in Ukraine. Russian forces launched 176 drones overnight, according to the Ukrainian military. They claimed to have shot down 103 of them, while 67 failed to reach their targets. Russia also reported shooting down 21 Ukrainian drones. Additionally, a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil facility in the Krasnodar region caused "serious damage," affecting Kazakhstan’s oil exports.
European Leaders Take Action
Elsewhere, Zelenskyy met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Erdogan reaffirmed that Turkey supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also suggested Turkey as a possible host for future peace talks.
In Poland, U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg met with President Andrzej Duda. After the meeting, Duda reassured that the U.S. would maintain its military presence in Eastern Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that any peace resolution must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
Kellogg is expected to visit Ukraine soon to meet with Zelenskyy.
