Russia, US to name negotiators on ending Ukraine war

Russia, U.S. Agree to Negotiation Teams for Ukraine Peace Talks

Russia and the United States agreed on Tuesday to establish negotiation teams to explore a path to ending the war in Ukraine, following high-level talks that sparked criticism from Kyiv over its exclusion, AFP reported.

Washington acknowledged that European nations would need to be included “at some point” in the negotiations, which marked the first direct U.S.-Russia talks since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Concerns Over U.S. Policy Shift

Some European leaders, wary of President Donald Trump’s approach to Russia, fear Washington may grant significant concessions to Moscow, potentially reshaping European security in a Cold War-style agreement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Kyiv’s exclusion from the Riyadh discussions, which lasted over four hours. He insisted that any negotiations must be “fair” and involve European countries, including Turkey, which has offered to host future talks.

“This will only feed Putin’s appetite,” a senior Ukrainian official told AFP, criticizing the talks' launch without Ukraine’s participation.

U.S. and Russia Agree on Diplomatic Framework

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to appoint high-level teams to work on a resolution “as soon as possible,” according to the U.S. State Department.

Both sides also agreed to establish a “consultation mechanism” to address bilateral issues and set the stage for future cooperation. However, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said it was "difficult" to set a date for a potential Trump-Putin meeting.

Moscow Sees Diplomatic Win

The talks marked a diplomatic breakthrough for Moscow after years of isolation under former U.S. President Joe Biden. Russia’s economic negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, declared that Western efforts to isolate Russia had “obviously failed.”

Lavrov, speaking to reporters, said, “We didn’t just listen, we heard each other,” and suggested the U.S. better understands Russia’s stance. He reiterated Moscow’s opposition to any NATO troop deployment in Ukraine as part of a ceasefire.

European Divisions on Troop Deployment

European allies remain divided on potential peacekeeping forces. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would consider sending British soldiers, while French President Emmanuel Macron indicated Paris was open to deploying experts or limited troops in non-combat zones.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the debate as “completely premature.” Macron plans to host additional talks with European and non-European nations following an emergency meeting in Paris.

Russia’s Demands and Western Caution

Russia reiterated that resolving the conflict would require reshaping Europe’s defense framework. Moscow has long pushed for NATO’s withdrawal from Eastern Europe, viewing the alliance as a threat.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned the West against falling into Russian “traps,” emphasizing that peace must be achieved “on Ukraine’s terms.”

Rubio, after briefing European ministers, acknowledged that the EU’s involvement was inevitable due to its sanctions on Russia.

Slow Path to Negotiations

Talks in Riyadh’s Diriyah Palace began without public handshakes, with both sides downplaying expectations for an immediate breakthrough.

Trump has pledged to end the war but has yet to present a concrete plan. Washington has signaled that both Ukraine and Russia will need to make concessions for negotiations to succeed.

Moscow, however, remains firm in its refusal to surrender occupied Ukrainian territory. The Kremlin stated that while Ukraine has the “right” to join the EU, NATO membership remains off-limits.

It also reiterated that President Vladimir Putin is “ready” to negotiate with Zelensky but questioned his legitimacy, citing the expiration of his five-year term, despite Ukrainian law allowing its extension during wartime.

Meanwhile, Zelensky met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing conflict.