Riyadh, February 18, 2025 – Russian and US officials held a four-hour marathon meeting in Riyadh to discuss ending the Ukraine war. Russia described the talks as “very positive and constructive.”
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, told Russian state television that the dialogue was open and aimed at understanding each other’s positions. “Unlike the Biden administration, which never tried to listen, this time, there was a clear effort to understand Russia’s stance and find common ground,” he said.
Yuri Ushakov, a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, also called the discussions important but stopped short of calling them a breakthrough. He said both nations agreed to consider each other’s interests and improve bilateral relations.
The meeting was scheduled following a phone call last week between Putin and US President Donald Trump, during which they agreed to start negotiations on ending the war. However, Ukraine was not invited to the meeting, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reject any peace deal that does not involve Kyiv.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, participated in the discussions.
While details remain undisclosed, both sides acknowledged the importance of dialogue in resolving the ongoing crisis.
