In a move that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, senior American and Russian officials convened in Saudi Arabia on February 18 for what is being described as the most extensive negotiations between the two nations in at least three years. The talks, held in Riyadh, signify an unexpected shift in relations, with President Donald Trump pursuing a swift resolution to the war in Ukraine and the Kremlin seeking warmer ties with Washington. However, the discussions extended far beyond Ukraine, with economic cooperation and business relations playing a crucial role in the deliberations.

The Riyadh talks, which took place at the Diriyah Palace, saw a high-level US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, and Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy and close confidant. On the Russian side, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy adviser to President Vladimir Putin, spearheaded the discussions. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, was also expected to participate later in the day.

This diplomatic engagement came just days after a lengthy phone call between President Trump and President Putin. In the aftermath of their discussion, Trump stated that the two leaders had spoken about “the great benefit” of US-Russia cooperation and had agreed to “start negotiations immediately” to bring the war in Ukraine to an end.

The meeting, however, is raising serious concerns across Europe and Ukraine. With Kyiv largely excluded from the discussions, there are fears that Trump may push for a peace deal that could disproportionately favor Moscow, potentially forcing Ukraine into concessions that........

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