Russian officials are set to engage in talks with U.S. counterparts in Saudi Arabia, focusing on restoring relations and addressing the war in Ukraine. Key participants include Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions follow a recent phone call between Trump and Putin, which indicated a shift in U.S. policy toward Russia and highlighted Ukraine’s significance in the negotiations.

Top Russian officials are set to engage in discussions with their U.S. counterparts in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, focusing on restoring bilateral relations, pursuing a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine, and arranging a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, as announced by the Kremlin on Monday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov will join the talks in Riyadh. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the American delegation, alongside Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz.

The discussions aim to address the comprehensive restoration of U.S.-Russian relations, as well as the prospect of negotiations concerning Ukraine and the organization of a summit between the two presidents. The talks follow a recent phone call between Trump and Putin, which marked a shift in U.S. policy towards Moscow, ending its isolation since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Following their conversation, Trump informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the developments. Trump indicated that Zelenskyy “will be involved” but did not specify the extent of Ukrainian participation in the talks in Saudi Arabia, which remains uncertain.

A Ukrainian delegation is currently in Saudi Arabia to facilitate Zelenskyy’s potential visit. Zelenskyy has previously stated that he would not accept negotiations that exclude Ukraine. European governments are also advocating for Ukraine’s inclusion in the discussions.

During an interview, Witkoff expressed the intention to make substantial progress regarding the Russia-Ukraine situation. He highlighted the importance of building trust and emphasized that the objective is to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.

Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko noted that the Ukrainian delegation’s efforts are concentrated on strengthening economic relations in preparation for significant agreements in the region. Meanwhile, adviser Andriy Yermak has indicated there are currently no plans for direct meetings between Ukrainian and Russian representatives until a strategy for peace is established.

Mykhailo Podolyak, another adviser to Zelenskyy, affirmed that Ukraine would not participate in the U.S.-Russia meetings, asserting that there are no meaningful negotiations to engage in.

In summary, top Russian and U.S. officials will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the restoration of relations and efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. The discussions come after Trump and Putin’s recent phone call, which signaled a new framework for engagement between the two countries. Ukrainian officials are also in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the necessity of including Ukraine in any negotiations concerning the region’s future. Overall, the outcome of these talks remains to be seen, as Ukraine’s involvement and stance on negotiations continue to evolve.

Original Source: apnews.com

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