What happened at the meeting between the US and Russia?
2025-02-18 17:53:00
TiranaPost
The US and Russia held the first round of talks on a peace deal in Ukraine in Riyadh on Tuesday, without the participation of Ukraine or European countries. One of the main issues discussed was holding new elections in Ukraine, assuming that the current president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has a low chance of being re-elected. Russia believes that another candidate would be more flexible and willing to negotiate.
At a press conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the purpose of the meeting was to continue communication between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin and to establish a stable diplomatic channel. He said that Russia is ready to seriously engage in the peace process and announced that the US and Russia will return their ambassadors, normalizing diplomatic relations. Rubio stressed that although Ukraine was not present, it will be included in the upcoming talks, as will the European Union, adding that all parties must make concessions to reach an agreement. He described this meeting as the first step in a long and complicated process.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the meeting a “very useful conversation” and expressed confidence that the US now better understands Russia’s position. He announced that Russia would nominate its ambassador after the US does the same. Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s opposition to NATO expansion and Ukraine’s admission to the alliance, calling it a direct threat to Russia. He added that any peacekeeping force in Ukraine would be unacceptable and would not change the situation on the ground. Regarding Ukraine’s involvement in the negotiations, Lavrov did not give a clear answer, while Kiev has stated that it will not accept an agreement without being a party to the talks.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia agrees with Ukraine's membership in the EU, but not in NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any agreement that does not include Ukraine as a direct party to the negotiations. The meeting in Riyadh is only the first step in a process that remains complicated and with many unknowns.
