Trump-Putin unlikely to meet soon? As US and Russia conclude first round of talks, Kremlin reveals key details

The first round of high-level talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia concluded on Tuesday, but no immediate plans have been made for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Putin's foreign affairs advisor, who attended the talks alongside Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, shared with Russian state TV that a summit between the two leaders is "unlikely" to take place next week.

According to Ushakov, the need for continued close cooperation between the two countries' delegations before any definitive date could be set.


"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 said.

Focus on improving US-Russia ties

The Saudi-hosted meeting, which took place at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, was designed to address deteriorating US-Russia relations and explore potential peace efforts concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine.

While Ukraine was not represented at the talks, the absence of Ukrainian officials has raised concerns in Kyiv and among European allies, who fear that decisions regarding Ukraine's future could be made without their input.

Ushakov clarified that the talks' primary focus was on "restoring the entire range of US-Russian relations," including discussions on a possible meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump, as well as the potential for peace negotiations on Ukraine.

US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce noted that the objective of the talks was to assess Russia's willingness to pursue peace and whether negotiations could move forward.

Ukraine’s exclusion raises alarm

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would not accept any outcomes from the negotiations if it was not directly involved.

Zelenskyy’s concerns were echoed by European allies, with France convening an emergency meeting of European Union leaders and the UK to address the growing apprehension about being sidelined in discussions about Ukraine’s future.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a statement after speaking with Trump and Zelenskyy, reiterated the importance of a "strong and lasting peace" for Ukraine, emphasising that any resolution must involve Russia ending its aggression and provide "strong and credible security guarantees" for Ukraine's future.

Saudi Arabia’s role in brokering US-Russia talks

The Saudi-hosted talks also reflect the growing diplomatic role of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has sought to position Saudi Arabia as a key player in global affairs despite past controversies, including the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The Saudi leadership's efforts to mediate peace initiatives have been seen in its role in prisoner negotiations and hosting Zelenskyy at an Arab League summit in 2023.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz were part of the American delegation, while Lavrov and Ushakov represented Russia. The meeting was the first extensive high-level contact between the US and Russia since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ahead of the talks, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, had talked about the significance of improving US-Russia relations, especially in addressing global issues.

"Good US-Russia relations are very important for the whole world," Dmitriev said.

According to Saudi media, the Russian delegation highlighted the priority of achieving "real normalisation" in US-Russia relations.

While no breakthroughs were made in the first round of discussions, the meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to set the stage for future diplomacy.

Relief in sight for war-torn Ukraine?

As diplomatic efforts unfold, the war in Ukraine persists, with Russia continuing its aerial assaults.

Ukrainian military officials reported that Russian forces launched 176 drones at Ukraine overnight, most of which were intercepted or disabled.

However, one drone struck a residential building in the Kirovohrad region, injuring a mother and her two children. The attack also prompted the evacuation of 38 residents. Further damage was reported in the Cherkasy region, where drone debris caused damage to four residential buildings.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, the talks in Saudi Arabia signal a shift in the diplomatic landscape, with both the US and Russia taking steps to address the broader geopolitical tensions exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

(With inputs from AP)