Top US and Russian officials are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday for high-level talks to explore ways to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. The meeting, hosted by Saudi Arabia, signals a major shift in the kingdom’s role as a global mediator.
The talks, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and other top officials, focused on ending the three-year-old conflict in Ukraine and restoring American-Russian relations.
Ukraine, however, was not present at the talks, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stating that no peace deal can be made without Kiev’s involvement.
Even Europe was excluded from the meeting, prompting EU leaders to schedule an emergency summit to discuss the situation and take a common position on Ukraine’s security and sovereignty.
A New Approach to Russia
The meeting reflects a significant departure from the previous US administration’s approach to Russia. Under President Donald Trump, the US is taking a more direct approach, with Trump himself having spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.
The talks are seen as a precursor to a potential summit between Trump and Putin, one of which could be in Moscow and the other in Washington.
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the talks is also seen as a strategic move to boost its global influence but suggests that the scale of the discussions may potentially go beyond the war.
While the kingdom has been seeking to diversify its economy and project itself as a global peacekeeper, it remains a global energy powerhouse, just like Russia and America.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has developed close ties with both Trump and Putin, making Saudi Arabia an ideal host for the talks.
The talks have significant implications for the region, particularly for Ukraine. European leaders, who were not directly involved in the talks,
The meeting may also have implications for the Middle East, particularly for the Gaza Strip where Trump is looking for support from the Arab world on his controversial proposal to redevelop the war-torn Gaza strip and deport Palestinians to other Arab countries.
Saudi Arabia, which is scheduled to host a mini-Arab summit, may use its mediation role to influence the US position on Gaza.
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