In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced today that the United States and Russia have agreed to begin high-level talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The announcement followed a meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The talks, which come less than a week after a historic phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, mark the first major step toward resolving the conflict that has raged for over three years. Secretary Rubio emphasized that President Trump is the only world leader capable of bringing both sides to the table.
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During the press conference, Secretary Rubio outlined four key principles agreed upon by both sides:
- Restoration of Diplomatic Missions: The U.S. and Russia will work to reestablish the functionality of their respective diplomatic missions in Washington and Moscow, which have been severely hampered by years of reciprocal sanctions and expulsions.
- High-Level Negotiations on Ukraine: Both sides will appoint high-level teams to negotiate an enduring and acceptable resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. This will include discussions on territorial disputes and security guarantees.
- Geopolitical and Economic Cooperation: The U.S. and Russia will explore opportunities for geopolitical and economic cooperation that could emerge from a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
- Ongoing Engagement: The officials involved in today’s meeting will remain engaged to ensure the process moves forward productively.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz underscored the urgency of ending the war, describing it as a “meat grinder” that has caused immense suffering and destruction. “President Trump has made it clear that an endless war in Europe is unacceptable,” Waltz said. “He is determined to bring this conflict to a conclusion that is fair, enduring, and acceptable to all parties.”
When asked about the possibility of Russia retaining territory annexed since the war began in February 2022, Waltz declined to provide specifics but acknowledged that territorial discussions would be part of the negotiations. “These are the tough issues that will need to be addressed,” he said. “But the important thing is that we’ve started the process.”
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Rubio repeatedly emphasized President Trump’s unique ability to broker peace. “Only President Trump could have initiated this process,” Rubio said. “He campaigned on ending this war, and he is delivering on that promise. The world should be thanking him for taking this step.”
Rubio also addressed concerns from European allies, particularly Ukraine, who have expressed frustration at being sidelined in the process. He assured that the U.S. is consulting with its allies regularly, noting that President Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy immediately after his call with Putin. “No one is being sidelined,” Rubio said. “But President Trump is the only leader who can bring both sides together.”
The officials expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for hosting the talks and facilitating the discussions. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has played an indispensable role in making today possible,” Rubio said. “We are grateful for their partnership and hope they will continue to support this process.”
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been a key mediator in the talks, and Saudi Arabia’s involvement signals its growing influence in global diplomacy. While it remains unclear whether Saudi Arabia will take on a formal mediation role, Rubio indicated that the kingdom’s support would be crucial moving forward.
The next steps in the process will involve multiple tracks, including the restoration of diplomatic missions, high-level negotiations on Ukraine, and discussions on future geopolitical and economic cooperation. While no specific timeline was provided, Secretary Rubio stressed that President Trump is committed to moving quickly. “President Trump is not patient,” Rubio said. “He drives hard, and he wants to get things done.”
The high-level teams tasked with negotiating an end to the conflict will begin their work soon, though no date has been set for their first meeting. The teams will include experts on territorial disputes, security guarantees, and economic cooperation.
Despite the optimism, significant challenges remain. The issue of sanctions, which have been a major point of contention between the U.S. and Russia, was raised during the press conference. Secretary Rubio acknowledged that sanctions relief could be part of the discussions but emphasized that no decisions have been made. “Sanctions are a result of this conflict,” Rubio said. “In order to bring an end to the conflict, there will have to be concessions from all sides.”
The U.S. will also need to navigate concerns from European allies, particularly the United Kingdom, which has been critical of any potential normalization of relations with Russia following the Skripal poisoning and other incidents. Rubio assured that the U.S. would continue to consult with its allies throughout the process.
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