Back in Business: Moscow Reclaims Leadership Position
The sight of senior Russian and American officials gathered at a large negotiating table is truly remarkable. For many people, especially Ukrainians, this development has been difficult to accept. In Saudi Arabia, Moscow achieved a significant milestone: after three years of relentless war against its neighbor and subsequent isolation by the West, it had returned to the “top table” of global diplomacy.
Not only that; Russia appeared to be in full control throughout these talks. Even as air raid sirens continue to sound across Ukraine, this was precisely the image Moscow wanted to project. This wasn’t a defeated Russia forced into negotiations but rather an America inviting its aggressor to set the terms.
In fact, US officials had stated their intention of gauging Russia’s commitment to peace before entering these discussions. However, President Donald Trump already had his conclusions after speaking with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the phone. He announced that Putin “wants people to stop dying,” indicating a desire for an end to the conflict.
Instead of insisting on Russia withdrawing all its troops from Ukraine, as he could have done, Trump seemed more inclined toward negotiating a deal with Moscow to resolve the wara promise he had made during his campaign. During these talks in Riyadh, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emerged and announced that initial steps for negotiations had been agreed upon, forming teams on both sides.
Rubio concluded that Russia was prepared to engage in a “serious process” aimed at ending the conflict. But why was he so certain? Across from him sat Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who remains under sanctions due to what US Treasury has labeled as Russia’s “brutal war of choice.”
When asked about American accusations regarding attacks on civilian energy infrastructure, Lavrov maintained that his country had never targeted such facilities. However, I have personally witnessed the ruins of civilian power plants hit by Russian missiles, demonstrating that this is indeed a practice carried out by Russia.
The US’s attempt to engage with a nation that has repeatedly shown itself to be untrustworthy adds another layer of concern for Ukraines allies. Furthermore, there are no indications from Russia that it intends to make any concessions: why would it when the Trump administration has already agreed that Ukraine will not join NATO and will not recover its occupied territories as Moscow demands?
Therefore, what troubled Ukraine’s allies most wasn’t just the image of US and Russian officials seated at a prestigious table in Saudi Arabia. It was also how they spoke: promises about future investment sounded like offers to lift sanctions, implying no accountability for Russias aggressive actions.
Though these are early days in this process, Moscow appears confident that its return to direct negotiations with the United States marks its rightful place on the global stage as an equal.
