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• Senior U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the Ukraine war without Ukrainian participation.
• The meeting follows a phone call between President Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin last week, where they agreed to work towards a negotiated end to the conflict.
• Ukraine and European allies express concern over being sidelined from the negotiations.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

On February 18, 2025, senior officials from the U.S. and Russia convened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to initiate talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. This meeting is part of a broader effort by President Trump to reverse the U.S. policy of isolating Russia, which has been in place since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Core Players

• Marco Rubio – U.S. Secretary of State
• Sergey Lavrov – Russian Foreign Minister
• Vladimir Putin – Russian President
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy – Ukrainian President
• President Trump – U.S. President

Key Numbers

• February 24, 2022 – Date of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
• $300 billion – Estimated loss to American businesses from leaving the Russian market due to sanctions
• 3 years – Duration of U.S. policy to isolate Russia over the Ukraine war

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The recent meeting in Riyadh was a direct consequence of a phone call between President Trump and Vladimir Putin last week, where they agreed to work together towards ending the Ukraine war.

This development marks a significant shift in U.S. policy, as it moves away from the previous strategy of isolating Russia over its actions in Ukraine.

Inside Forces

The meeting was led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. They agreed to establish a consultation mechanism to address bilateral relationship issues and to appoint high-level teams to work on ending the conflict in Ukraine.

The discussions also included economic aspects, with senior Russian businessman Kirill Dmitriev emphasizing the importance of finding joint economic solutions and the attractiveness of the Russian market.

Power Dynamics

The absence of Ukrainian representatives in the talks has sparked concerns among Ukrainian leaders and their European allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not accept the outcome of any negotiations conducted without Kyiv’s involvement.

European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have expressed their commitment to ensuring a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for Russia to end its aggression and for credible security guarantees for Ukraine.

Outside Impact

The international community is closely watching these developments, with many European countries considering their roles in potential peacekeeping missions. The UK and Sweden have indicated a willingness to deploy troops to Ukraine to secure an eventual peace, while Poland has ruled out such a deployment.

The hosting of the talks in Saudi Arabia also underscores the kingdom’s growing role in international diplomacy, particularly in mediating conflicts.

Future Forces

The future of the negotiations hinges on the ability of the U.S. and Russia to involve Ukraine and other stakeholders meaningfully. The establishment of vibrant diplomatic missions and the re-staffing of embassies in Washington and Moscow are seen as crucial steps in this process.

Economic cooperation and investment opportunities are also expected to emerge from a successful end to the conflict, according to Kirill Dmitriev.

Data Points

• February 18, 2025 – Date of the U.S.-Russia meeting in Riyadh
• Diriyah Palace – Venue of the meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Mike Waltz and Steve Witkoff – U.S. officials accompanying Marco Rubio
• Yuri Ushakov – Kremlin’s foreign affairs adviser accompanying Sergey Lavrov