U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have agreed to establish teams aimed at swiftly ending Russia's war in Ukraine, according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. The two leaders also plan to collaborate on issues of shared geopolitical interest. This development follows a high-level meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, where delegations from the United States and Russia, led by Rubio and Lavrov, convened.
"One phone call and a single meeting are not enough to achieve lasting peace. Action is essential, and today we took a significant step forward," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized after Tuesday's talks and a prior phone conversation between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Bruce reported that Rubio and Lavrov have agreed to form teams focused on ending the conflict in Ukraine as quickly as possible. Additionally, they will establish a consultative mechanism to address sensitive issues in U.S.-Russia relations. The two sides also pledged to cooperate on economic and investment opportunities that may arise once the war in Ukraine concludes, as well as on matters of mutual geopolitical interest.
During a post-meeting press conference, Marco Rubio stressed that the European Union must be included in the process at some point, given its imposition of sanctions on Russia. He dismissed concerns that Europe was being excluded from the negotiations, emphasizing that any resolution must be acceptable to Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union.
"Our goal is to end this conflict in a manner that is fair, lasting, sustainable, and acceptable to all parties involved," Rubio stated. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added that the U.S. is consulting with its allies and Ukraine "daily" while working to bring the conflict to a swift conclusion.
Lowered Expectations Ahead of the Meeting
Before the meeting, both sides tempered expectations, noting that they did not anticipate specific agreements to be reached in Riyadh. Tammy Bruce explained that the discussions would serve as a follow-up to President Trump's earlier conversation with Putin, aimed at exploring potential pathways forward. She emphasized that Washington's primary objective was to assess whether Russia is genuinely committed to resuming dialogue.
Meanwhile, Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov stated that Moscow and Washington have yet to agree on how to initiate negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine. He described the Russian delegation's approach to the talks as "businesslike."
Criticism Over the Exclusion of Ukraine and the EU
The absence of Ukraine and the European Union from the talks sparked criticism in Kyiv and several European capitals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that he would not recognize the outcome of the Riyadh discussions, asserting that any negotiations concerning Ukraine are meaningless without Ukraine's participation.
However, U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg reassured on Monday that no peace agreement with Russia would be imposed on Zelensky. He emphasized that the decision on peace with Russia ultimately rests with the Ukrainian president and the Ukrainian people.
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