The U.S. and Russia met in Riyadh to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, marking the first time officials from both countries have sat down together to address the conflict. The Ukrainian government was not represented at the meeting, causing some concerns about decisions being made without their consent. Both sides discussed negotiating over territory and security guarantees in order to end the war permanently. While Ukrainian and European concerns were addressed, Russia hardened its demands by refusing NATO membership for Ukraine and rejecting the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine.
The fast-moving diplomacy between the U.S. and Russia has sparked alarm in Ukraine and European capitals, as there is a fear that a quick deal could be made that ignores their security interests and rewards Moscow for its invasion. The two sides agreed to appoint high-level teams to work on ending the conflict in Ukraine in a sustainable and acceptable way to all parties. Both Russia and the U.S. expressed a willingness to engage in a serious process to bring an end to the war.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed high interest in lifting economic barriers between the U.S. and Russia, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted the importance of involving the European Union in future discussions. The possibility of lifting sanctions imposed on Russia was discussed but no firm commitments were made. The negotiations in Riyadh highlighted the complex and delicate nature of the conflict and the various interests at stake.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
