U.S. and Russia Hold High-Level Talks on Ukraine

On 18th February 2025, U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh for the highest-level talks to date on ending the war in Ukraine and restoring bilateral ties.

Key Points

Ukraine’s Stance: Ukraine, not present at the talks, insisted that no peace deal could be made without its involvement.
European Concerns: European leaders, caught off guard, met in Paris to discuss a unified strategy to ensure they remain part of any negotiations.
Economic and Diplomatic Goals: Talks covered war resolution and rebuilding U.S.-Russia economic ties, including lifting trade barriers.
Geopolitical Shift: The meeting marks a major departure from the Biden administration’s approach, which avoided direct negotiations with Russia.
Security in Europe: European nations pledged increased defence investments and sought American backing for security guarantees in Ukraine.