US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are currently meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss the upcoming peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine. The talks, which are set to take place without the presence of Kyiv and its European allies, are being closely watched by the international community.
Joining Rubio and Lavrov are other high-ranking officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff from the US side, and top-level political, intelligence, and economic figures from Russia, such as sovereign wealth fund chief Kirill Dmitriev.
Lavrov has expressed the goal of ending the strained relations between the US and Russia, referring to the current period as 'abnormal.' The discussions could potentially pave the way for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, European leaders have voiced concerns about being excluded from the talks and held an emergency meeting in Paris to address the situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged European nations to unite in creating a common defense strategy and foreign policy, emphasizing the need for a cohesive approach in the absence of guaranteed US support.
The outcome of the talks in Saudi Arabia could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape. The international community will be closely monitoring the developments as efforts to find a peaceful resolution continue.
