Talks between Russian and United States officials in Saudi Arabia have concluded without a confirmed date for a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, a senior Kremlin official said on Tuesday.
Yuri Ushakov, President Putin's foreign affairs advisor, who attended the talks alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, told Russia's Channel One that a meeting between the two leaders is "unlikely" to occur next week.
"The delegations of the two countries need to work closely together. We are ready for this, but it is still difficult to talk about a specific date for the meeting of the two leaders," Ushakov remarked.
The meeting, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and other senior officials, focused on improving bilateral relations and exploring potential avenues to resolve the war in Ukraine. The discussions signify a significant shift in American foreign policy under President Trump.
No Ukrainian representatives were present during the talks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv would not accept any outcomes from the meeting without its participation. European allies, too, have raised concerns about being excluded from negotiations.
"We seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine," French President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media platform X, following separate discussions with both Trump and Zelenskyy.
"To achieve this, Russia must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians," he asserted.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated on Monday that the talks primarily aimed to "restore the entire range of US-Russian relations" while preparing for future presidential negotiations.
Peskov stressed that a "comprehensive, long-term, and viable" settlement of the Ukraine conflict requires addressing broader European security issues.
US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce echoed similar sentiments, stating that the meeting aimed to gauge Russia's commitment to peace and the feasibility of initiating detailed negotiations.
"Even though Ukraine will not be at the table Tuesday, any actual peace negotiations will include the country," Bruce affirmed.
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The exclusion of Kyiv has sparked criticism among Ukrainian officials and prompted France to convene an emergency meeting with European Union and United Kingdom representatives on Monday to discuss the evolving situation.
The Saudi role in diplomacy
The meeting, held at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, underscores Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitions to position Saudi Arabia as a pivotal diplomatic intermediary. Saudi state media reported that the talks were held under the prince's directive.
The kingdom has maintained close ties with Russia throughout the war, engaging in prisoner negotiations and hosting President Zelenskyy during an Arab League summit in 2023.
Rubio was joined by US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Lavrov was accompanied by Ushakov, while Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and national security adviser Musaed al Alban also participated in the initial session.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, underscored the meeting's importance.
"Good US-Russia relations are very important for the whole world. Only jointly can Russia and the US address lots of world problems, resolve global conflicts and offer solutions," Dmitriev said, emphasising economic discussions.
Al Arabiya, a Saudi-owned satellite channel, cited the Russian delegation, describing Moscow's priority as "real normalisation with Washington".
The discussions mark the most extensive contact between the two nations since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Prior meetings included brief interactions between Lavrov and former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a G-20 summit in India and clandestine discussions between intelligence chiefs in Turkey.
War in Ukraine continues
Amid diplomatic efforts, Russia continues to target Ukraine with drone strikes. The Ukrainian air force reported the launch of 176 drones overnight, most of which were intercepted or disabled through electronic jamming.
One drone strike injured a mother and her two children in Dolynska, Kirovohrad region, prompting the evacuation of 38 apartments. Additional drone debris damaged four residential buildings in the Cherkasy region, local officials confirmed.
Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia later this week as the conflict enters its third year with no immediate prospect of resolution.
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