On Tuesday, top diplomats from the United States and Russia are set to meet in Riyadh for an important round of talks aimed at exploring potential paths toward resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine.
This meeting, considered the most significant diplomatic exchange between the two nations since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, represents a critical moment for global diplomacy.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of these high-stakes discussions signals the kingdom’s growing ambition to serve as a neutral mediator in global conflicts. The location of the talks has already drawn attention, with officials noting that Riyadh is not just providing the venue but is also positioning itself as an active player in facilitating dialogue between the US and Russia.
Over the past several years, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has worked to reshape the kingdom’s foreign policy, highlighting diplomacy and conflict mediation as part of his Vision 2030 plan. This approach seeks to diversify the nation’s economy away from oil dependence and bolster its global soft power.
The kingdom’s national security adviser will lead Saudi Arabia’s delegation in what is seen as an effort to both ease tensions between Washington and Moscow and potentially pave the way for further peace talks regarding Ukraine.
The main agenda of Tuesday’s discussions is to assess the possibility of improving US-Russia relations, which have deteriorated to their lowest point in decades. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, the talks will focus on “restoring the entire range of US-Russian relations” and laying the groundwork for potential negotiations on the conflict in Ukraine.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, will lead the Russian delegation, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior US officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, will represent the United States.
While Ukraine will not be directly involved in this round of talks, US officials have made it clear that any real peace negotiations can only take place with Ukraine’s active participation. “Our goal is to see how serious Russia is about peace and to determine if we can move forward with discussions,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
The talks come in the wake of a phone call between US. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two leaders agreed to begin immediate discussions on the possibility of resolving the war, signaling a potential shift in US policy. However, the absence of Ukrainian officials at the table has caused unease in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced his discontent, stressing that his country must be part of any peace agreement.
In addition to its efforts regarding Ukraine, Saudi Arabia has also taken steps to strengthen its ties with Russia, with both nations showing mutual interest in economic cooperation.
The Impact of Riyadh’s Mediation
As the US and Russian diplomats meet in Riyadh, the world will be watching closely to see if the talks can yield any breakthroughs or if they will serve as a stepping stone toward more formal peace negotiations.