High -ranking US officials said Tuesday, after conversations with a Russian delegation in Saudi Arabia, that all parties will have to make concessions to achieve the end of the war in Ukraine, which has been three years.
“Today is the first step of a long and difficult trip, but important,” said Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, after the conversations in Riyadh.
The White House National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, along with Rubio and the Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff said the delegations did not set a date for a summit among US President Donald Trump, and his pair of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
The American delegation said that negotiations will include discussions about the territory and security guarantees for Ukraine. Russia controls approximately one fifth of the country.
Rubio said Trump wants to act quickly to try to end war and that the objective is a fair, lasting and sustainable agreement.
Amid the concerns in Ukraine and among European allies about the effort led by the United States, Rubio said that the objective is an agreement that is “Acceptable for all those involved in it, and that obviously includes Ukraine, but also our partners in Europe and, of course, also on the Russian side.”
Key Points of the Meeting
Conversations between the United States and Russia conclude after 4.5 hours
- USA and Russia plan to send equipment to Ukraine to normalize relationships
- Rubio says that the solution must work for Ukraine and the EU
- Lavrov does not want NATO troops in Ukraine
- Ukraine and European leaders were not present in Tuesday’s conversations
- Zelenski insists that there will be no agreements without the consent of Ukraine
Conversations with Russia in Riad are an “important step forward,” says USA.
The United States wants to stop killings and is using its strength in the world to unite countries, said state department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, In a summary of conversations.
He said that President Trump is the only leader in the world who could make Ukraine and Russia accept that. During the conversations, he said, American and Russian officials agreed:
-“Establish a consultation mechanism to address the irritating aspects of our bilateral relationship with the objective of taking the necessary measures to normalize the functioning of our respective diplomatic missions.”
-“Appoint the respective high -level teams to start work on a way to end the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible in a way that is lasting, sustainable and acceptable for all parties “.
-“Lay the foundations for future cooperation in matters of mutual geopolitical interest and in economic opportunities and historical investment that will arise from a successful completion of the conflict in Ukraine. ”
-“Continue committed to ensure that the process advances in a timely and productive way.”
After Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin in Russia last week, Bruce said:
–“A phone call followed by a meeting is not enough to establish lasting peace. We must take action and today we have taken an important step.”
Russia says it has separate conversations with the US about future economic cooperation
Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev told Reuters that US and Russian officials maintained separate discussions about future economic cooperation, including global energy prices.
Trump is determined to act very quickly, says USA.
The American negotiator Mike Waltz says that Donald Trump is determined to advance very quickly in negotiations on a possible peace agreement in Ukraine, and that there will be conversations about territory and security guarantees.
An endless war in Europe is not acceptable to Trump, Waltz added after meeting with Russian officials in Riyadh.
He also said that the United States allies were consulting on Ukraine and that no one was being marginalized. He added that he was happy that Europe was talking about contributing more force to the security of Ukraine.
Rubio says that everyone has to agree with the solution to war in Ukraine
The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said that all those involved in the Ukrainian conflict must agree with the solution to end.
He said that a meeting with Russian officials in Riyadh was the first step of a long and difficult trip, with the objective of a fair and lasting end to war in Ukraine.
Rubio also said that the EU must be involved at some point and that no one is being set aside.
Russia does not want NATO troops in Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Ukraine membership in NATO was unacceptable, as was the appearance of NATO member troops, even if they operated there under a different flag.
“Today we have explained to our colleagues what President Putin has repeatedly underlined: that the extension of NATO, The absorption of Ukraine through the North Atlantic Alliance is a direct threat to the interests of the Russian Federation, a direct threat to our sovereignty, “said Lavrov.
Zelenski said that Türkiye and Europe must participate in negotiations
The Ukrainian president held a press conference with the Turkish president, Tayyip Erdogan, in Ankara.
Zelenskiy said that Türkiye and Europe should participate in conversations about the end of war between Russia and Ukraine, and that negotiations should not be held behind them.
Erdogan reiterated the full support of Türkiye to territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and added that Türkiye would be an appropriate place for any possible peace dialogue.
“Today we have explained that the appearance of armed forces of the same NATO countries, but under a false flag, under the flag of the European Union or under national flagsnothing changes in this regard. Of course, for us it is unacceptable. “
