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Prepared by: Endrit Berisha
- February 18, 2025 08:09 AM
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The United States and Russia discussed the war in Ukraine at a meeting in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, which was not attended by Ukrainian representatives. Details of how the meeting went and the statements and reactions after it can be read here
Trump says talks with Russia went "very well"
Photo: AP
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday's talks in Saudi Arabia between US and Russian officials went "very well." The talks focused on ending the war in Ukraine.
"Russia wants to do something, they want to stop this barbarity. They're killing thousands of soldiers a week, it's crazy. We want this senseless war to end... it would never have started if I had been president," Trump said.
Regarding the possibility of Europeans sending troops to Ukraine after a peace agreement is reached, he said there would be no objection.
"Having troops there would be good, I wouldn't object to it at all," Trump said, from the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.
Asked what his message is to Ukrainians who are feeling betrayed and disappointed, Trump said: "I'm really disappointed with what's happened." He was referring to the war in Ukraine that began in February 2022. "It would never happen if I were president."
He said that this issue could have been resolved years ago, without the loss of much land or the loss of any lives.
The Trump administration has signaled that it is open to discussing in negotiations territories of Ukraine that have been occupied by Russian troops.
Trump spoke after signing three executive orders alongside Elon Musk. One of them relates to IVF to make it more affordable for Americans.
Trump has called Musk a "patriot."
Erdogan: Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty are indisputable
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty are indisputable.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a meeting in Ankara, Erdogan also said Turkey was ready to host future peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US, the BBC reports.
No Ukrainian officials were invited to talks between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Zelensky on peace talks: Let no mistakes be made
Volodymyr Zelensky and Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Photo: Associated Press
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for mistakes to be avoided in peace talks for Ukraine.
Speaking on Tuesday during a joint press conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Zelensky said that ending the war should not be at the expense of the parties involved.
"It is fundamentally important that any talks about ending the war do not happen at the expense of the parties involved. For a lasting peace, it is important that no mistakes are made," he stated.
Zelensky also said that all parties should be represented at the negotiating table: America, Europe, and Ukraine.
Rubio: EU will have to come to the negotiating table
Photo: Associated Press
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the European Union will have to come to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine.
Asked about sanctions on Russia, Rubio told reporters that the sanctions were due to the conflict in Ukraine, adding that "concessions" must be made by "all sides" to end "any conflict."
Rubio said that "other parties have sanctions," adding that the EU "will have to be at the table at some point, because they have sanctions that have been imposed."
"The goal is to end this conflict in a way that is just, sustainable, and acceptable to all parties involved," he said.
Many Western countries, including the US, the UK and the European Union, have imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Lavrov: The American side understands our position
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that in their first meeting with the United States on the issue of the war in Ukraine, they agreed "that as soon as possible" the parties should return ambassadors to both countries and remove barriers.
As The Guardian reported, Lavrov said that the American side understands the Russian position.
"I have every reason to believe that the American side understands our position," he said.
According to the Foreign Minister, Russia will await confirmation of its representative for talks.
He considers the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine "completely unacceptable."
"We noted that President Trump was the first of the Western leaders to say that Ukraine's withdrawal from NATO was one of the main reasons behind what is happening, one of Biden's biggest mistakes. If Trump were president, this would never have happened. President Putin stressed more than once that NATO expansion and the 'absorption' of Ukraine by NATO was a direct threat to the Russian Federation and our sovereignty. And we explained today that any appearance of armed forces from NATO countries under any flag, under the European flag or under flags, does not change anything... Of course, it is completely unacceptable," Lavrov stated.
US and Russia agree on 4 principles
Photo: Associated Press
The United States and Russia have agreed on four principles, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced.
Agreed points, according to Rubio:
"To restore the functionality of our respective missions in Washington and Moscow. For us to continue on this path, we must have diplomatic facilities that operate and function normally."
We will appoint a high-level team to assist in the negotiations and work towards ending the conflict in Ukraine in a way that is sustainable and acceptable to all parties involved.
Let's start discussions and think about and consider the geopolitical and economic cooperation that could result from the end of the conflict in Ukraine.
"The five of us who were here today... will remain engaged in this process to ensure that it moves forward productively."
US: Ukrainian territory, topic of talks with Russia
The American side at the meeting with Russia
Photo: Associated Press
US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz has stated that talks on Ukraine will also include the topic of territory and security guarantees.
He said that the end of the war with Russia should be permanent, not "temporary as we have seen in the past."
"We know that the practical reality is that there will be some discussions about territory and there will be discussions about security guarantees. These are the fundamental foundations that will underpin and underpin any kind of discussion. But I think the most important part is that the president has expressed his desire, his determination to end this war, to end the killing that is going on... It is not in the interest of any country. It is not in the interest of the world, and certainly not in the interest of the United States and Europe," Waltz said after the meeting.
The American official added that these issues keep negotiations moving forward.
US and Russia agree to "work towards an end to the war"
The delegations of the United States and Russia have agreed to appoint high-level negotiating teams on Ukraine to work to find a path toward an early end to the war, said US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.
As she has announced, the end of this must be in a sustainable manner and acceptable to all parties.
"The United States and Russia will also work to find future cooperation on issues of mutual geopolitical interest and the historic economic and investment opportunities that will emerge from the successful end of the war in Ukraine," she added.
"President Trump wants an end to the killings: The United States wants peace and is using its power in the world to bring countries closer together. President Trump is the only world leader who can get Ukraine and Russia to agree on this," the State Department statement said, with a spokeswoman saying that today's meeting is just the beginning of the process.
Trump-Putin meeting not expected next week
A meeting between the presidents of the United States of America, Donald Trump, and Russia, Vladimir Putin, is not expected to take place next week, said Yuri Ushakov, the foreign policy adviser to the Russian president.
"We have agreed on separate teams of negotiators, who will put the contact on the right track," Ushakov said.
"Not bad," Russians say after the meeting
After the conclusion of the talks in Riyadh, officials from the Russian delegation commented on what has happened so far.
"A very positive and constructive dialogue has begun. Unlike the Biden administration, which never tried to listen to Russia's position, this was a very clear attempt to start a dialogue, to understand Russia's position and to discuss things we agree on," Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, told Channel One TV in Russia.
"There are many points on which we agree... We need to get to know each other better... We understand each other more now," he said.
Meanwhile, Putin's adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said the talks were "Not bad, not bad..."
"It is difficult to say that Russia and the US are getting closer, but what we discussed was very serious on all the issues we wanted to touch upon. We agreed to take into account each other's interests and develop bilateral relations, as Moscow and Washington are interested in this," Ushakov said, the BBC reports.
US-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia concludes
Photo: Associated Press
The US State Department has announced that the meeting between the US and Russian delegations in Riyadh has concluded.
The talks lasted more than four hours, including a working lunch.
Moscow: Kiev has the "right" to join the EU, but military alliances "something else entirely"
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is not against Ukraine joining the European Union, as it does not see it as a threat to Russia's security. However, he said that the situation is completely different when it comes to Ukraine joining a military alliance.
"It is the sovereign right of every state. We are talking about integration and economic processes and of course no one can dictate what a state can do. We will not do that. But our position on issues related to security, defense or military alliances is completely different. There is another issue and it is known to everyone," he said.
He said he had no information about a possible Trump-Putin meeting, but added that today's talks could provide more clarity.
Talks in Riyadh, nearly three hours
Photo: Associated Press
After a 15-minute break, the US and Russian delegations have returned to the negotiating table.
This means that almost three hours have passed since the discussions began.
There is also expected to be a working lunch.
Short break in talks
Photo: Associated Press
Russia's Foreign Ministry has announced that officials from its country and the United States have taken a short break from talks in Saudi Arabia.
Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that when the talks are concluded, there will be a press release.
Von der Leyen calls the situation in Ukraine a "critical moment"
Ursula von der Leyen
Photo: Associated Press
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with US special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Brussels on Tuesday, February 18, to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
The meeting took place on the same day that Russia and the United States began talks in Saudi Arabia, without the presence of the Ukrainian side.
The European Union official said it is a critical moment, while noting that Europe "is at the table financially and militarily."
"We will rise. We want to work with the United States of America to deliver a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. Now is a critical moment," she wrote on X.
Von der Leyen stated last week that a failed Ukraine would weaken Europe, but it would also weaken America.
At the Munich Security Conference, she praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he "is prepared to work towards a peace that honors the sacrifice of his country and fallen compatriots."
In response to statements by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, she said that "giving in to Putin's demands would intensify challenges in the Asia-Pacific and threaten our shared interests."
According to Von der Leyen, the European bloc is "working with Ukraine on its membership in the European Union," because, as she said, this is their future.
Kremlin: Putin will talk to Zelensky if necessary
Photo: Associated Press
The Kremlin has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if necessary.
This was stated to reporters by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
"Putin himself said he would be ready to negotiate with Zelensky if necessary," he said.
Peskov added that the legal basis of the agreements needs discussion.
"Considering the reality that Zelensky's legitimacy may be questioned," he added.
China: All parties should engage in peace talks
Photo: Associated Press
China has said it expects "all parties" in the war in Ukraine to discuss peace negotiations.
“China welcomes all peace efforts, including the consensus reached for negotiations between the United States and Russia,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun. “At the same time, China expects all parties involved to participate in the negotiation process at an appropriate time.”
China has consistently tried to position itself as a mediator in the war, but has lagged behind due to deepening relations with Moscow.
"Expect progress in US-Russia economic issues"
Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, is part of Moscow's delegation in Riyadh. He appears not to be in the meeting room at the moment, but spoke to reporters nearby.
He said he expects progress on economic issues between the two countries within three months.
According to him, American businesses have lost more than $300 billion since leaving Russian markets due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia launches massive attack on Ukraine ahead of talks with US
Photo: Associated Press
Russia has launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine, just hours before US and Russian delegations meet in Saudi Arabia to talk about ending the war.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 176 drone strikes overnight.
More than 100 drones have been shot down and nearly 70 others passed radar without any negative consequences, according to the Ukrainian military.
The damage caused by the attacks is not known.
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia "has dropped nearly 1200 bombs, carried out over 850 drone strikes and more than 40 missiles of various types" over the past week.
Who is attending the meeting?
The American side at the meeting with Russia
Photo: Associated Press
As the meeting between the United States and Russia has begun, the BBC has provided details on each participant in the meeting.
On the Russian side are:
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister. The 72-year-old has represented Vladimir Putin's Russia on the international stage for more than 20 years.
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's political advisor. He previously represented Russia as ambassador to the United States.
On the American side are:
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State. Considered a foreign policy hawk, he was confirmed in this important role last week.
Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor. War veteran and longtime Trump supporter.
Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy. Personal friend of Trump, golf enthusiast and real estate billionaire.
In the leadership of the meeting:
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud and National Security Advisor Mossad bin Mohammad al-Aiban
Where is Zelensky?
Photo: Associated Press
While the US and Russian delegations have begun the meeting in Riyadh, a key country is missing – Ukraine.
The US says the discussions are not the start of peace negotiations, but the meeting was planned after President Donald Trump's conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, neither Volodymyr Zelensky nor any other Ukrainian official is at the meeting. Zelensky was not invited.
"We cannot accept a peace agreement... without us," Zelensky told reporters on Monday.
Zelensky is in Turkey for a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
US-Russia meeting begins
Photo: Associated Press
Talks between the Russian and United States delegations in Saudi Arabia have already begun.
US officials have said this is not the start of negotiations, but the first step to see if Russia is "serious" about ending the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia has said the meeting is about normalizing relations with the US.
Another goal of the meeting, according to the parties, is to arrange a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, also in Riyadh. The pair spoke by phone last week, and Trump told reporters that they "will meet in Arabia," without setting a date.
On the American side, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead a delegation that will also include Mike Waltz, the national security secretary, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov will represent Russia. Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, is also expected to attend the meeting.
A day earlier, European leaders met for separate talks on Ukraine – the summit was urgently organized after the announcement of the US-Russia meetings.
