On February 18, 2025, a high-level meeting between Russia and the United States took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing geopolitical tensions stemming from the conflict in Ukraine. This meeting, which went far beyond being a mere “icebreaker,” showcased the Kingdom’s growing diplomatic influence and its capacity to mediate between two of the world’s most powerful nations. Held in the offices of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry and lasting over four hours, the discussions provided a rare opportunity for both sides to move beyond their entrenched positions, signaling potential shifts in both diplomatic and economic relations.

The Riyadh meeting was particularly significant because it was the first high-level engagement between Russia and the US since January 2022, when then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Geneva, just weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That meeting failed to avert the war, but the Riyadh discussions demonstrated a growing willingness to engage diplomatically amidst the backdrop of a devastating conflict that has claimed countless lives and escalated tensions between East and West.

Held on Saudi soil, the venue itself symbolized the Kingdom’s diplomatic credentials and its efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine. This was not the first time Saudi Arabia had played a central role in peace efforts. In March 2022, just days after the conflict erupted, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reached out to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, offering Saudi Arabia’s assistance in facilitating dialogue for a political solution. The Riyadh meeting thus represented an important milestone in the Kingdom’s broader effort to present itself as a mediator and a regional power capable of bridging gaps in international diplomacy.

Following the meeting, US Secretary of........

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