Top US and Russian officials recently met in Saudi Arabia for extensive negotiations, focusing on planning an end to the Ukraine war and pursuing closer cooperation. After almost five hours of talks, they agreed to create a high-level team to support peace talks and explore economic opportunities arising from resolving the conflict in Ukraine. This marked a significant shift in Washington’s approach to Russia, moving away from isolation efforts towards engagement.
While the meeting raised concerns in Kyiv and Europe about the potential for a settlement favoring Putin, both sides emphasized the need for an acceptable resolution to the conflict involving all parties. Despite not having Ukrainian or European officials present, the discussions in Riyadh marked a crucial attempt to negotiate an end to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia’s demands included Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions and accepting territorial losses, while Moscow rejected proposals for peacekeeping missions and halting strikes on energy infrastructure. Lavrov stressed that NATO expansion into Ukraine posed a direct threat to Russia’s interests.
The talks also hinted at Russia seeking sanctions relief and economic benefits from a potential Ukraine settlement. With Moscow pushing for territorial concessions and broader security reshaping in Europe, the US and its allies face challenges in securing their interests in the negotiations.
Despite efforts by France to coordinate a response among EU nations, the rapid pace of US-Russian diplomacy has left Kyiv and its allies concerned about being sidelined in the negotiations. As Russia and the US navigate towards a potential deal, the implications for Ukraine’s sovereignty, European security, and international relations remain uncertain.
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