In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday to advance efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, followed a February 12 phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The discussions marked a critical step in reestablishing bilateral relations between the two nations and addressing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
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Secretary Rubio was accompanied by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Ambassador Steve Witkoff, a team personally selected by President Trump to lead the effort. On the Russian side, Foreign Minister Lavrov was joined by Yuri Ushakov, Aide to the Russian President.
The talks focused on creating a framework for peace and addressing longstanding issues between the U.S. and Russia.
“President Trump wants to stop the killing; the United States wants peace and is using its strength in the world to bring countries together,” said Spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a statement following the meeting. “President Trump is the only leader in the world who can get Ukraine and Russia to agree to that.”
The two sides reached several key agreements during the meeting:
- Establishment of a Consultation Mechanism: A new framework will be created to address irritants in the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship, with the goal of normalizing the operation of their respective diplomatic missions.
- High-Level Teams for Ukraine Conflict Resolution: Both nations will appoint high-level teams to work on a path toward ending the conflict in Ukraine in a manner that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all parties involved.
- Groundwork for Future Cooperation: The discussions laid the foundation for future collaboration on geopolitical issues and economic opportunities that could emerge from a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
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The parties pledged to remain engaged to ensure the process moves forward in a timely and productive manner. “One phone call followed by one meeting is not sufficient to establish enduring peace,” the statement noted. “We must take action, and today we took an important step forward.”
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia played a pivotal role in facilitating the talks, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud providing a neutral venue for the high-stakes discussions.
The talks come at a critical juncture in the Ukraine conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions since it began.
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