High-Stakes Diplomacy: US and Russia Agree to Negotiations on Ending Ukraine War, Sparking Outrage from Kyiv and Concerns Across Europe
In a significant diplomatic move, the United States and Russia have agreed to set up teams to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, without Kyiv’s participation. The high-level discussions, held in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, have drawn strong criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who insists that any resolution must be “fair” and include European nations.
This marks the first official Washington-Moscow dialogue since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. acknowledged that European nations would need to be involved “at some point,” but for now, the process is being spearheaded by Washington and Moscow.
Ukraine Furious Over Exclusion
Zelensky strongly condemned his country’s exclusion from the negotiations in Riyadh, arguing that engaging in talks without Ukraine will only embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin. A senior Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, called the talks “feeding Putin’s appetite” and warned of potential consequences.
The discussions lasted over four hours and saw U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agree to create high-level teams to “work on a path to ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible,” according to the U.S. State Department.
Additionally, both sides established a consultation mechanism to address key disputes in U.S.-Russia relations, laying the groundwork for future cooperation.
Europe’s Concerns Over US-Russia Talks
European leaders have reacted with unease, particularly in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s shifting stance on Russia. Some fear that Washington may make significant concessions to Moscow, potentially reshaping Europe’s security structure in a Cold War-style deal.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed openness to sending British troops to Ukraine under a peacekeeping mission, while French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that France might deploy experts or even limited troops outside conflict zones. However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed any such discussions as “completely premature.”
Moscow Seizes Diplomatic Opportunity
For Russia, the Riyadh talks are a diplomatic breakthrough after years of isolation under former U.S. President Joe Biden. Russia’s economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev celebrated the moment, stating that Western efforts to isolate Moscow had “clearly failed.”
Lavrov emphasized that Moscow and Washington had “heard each other” and that the U.S. now has a “better understanding” of Russia’s stance. However, he reiterated Russia’s opposition to any NATO troop deployments in Ukraine.
NATO and Ukraine’s Future at Stake
Moscow outlined its conditions for future negotiations, including a reorganization of Europe’s defense agreements. Russia continues to demand the withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe, a stance it held even before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokespersons acknowledged Ukraine’s right to join the European Union but maintained that NATO membership is off the table. Putin has also indicated he is “ready” to negotiate with Zelensky, but questioned the Ukrainian leader’s legitimacy due to the postponement of elections during wartime.
What Comes Next?
The Riyadh talks were presented as the beginning of a long and complex negotiation process rather than an immediate breakthrough. While Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to end the war in Ukraine, he has yet to provide a concrete plan.
As tensions rise, European leaders are scrambling to ensure their voices are heard. Macron is set to host additional discussions with European and non-European nations on today, following an emergency meeting in Paris earlier this week.
For now, Ukraine remains sidelined in the very negotiations that will determine its fate.
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