The Guest List for the Crucial US-Russia Meeting in Riyadh
Reuters reported that three Americans and two Russians participated in talks held in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step toward ending Western isolation of Moscow. The participants described the meeting as foundational for future high-level negotiations and expressed their intention to restore diplomatic relations between their respective countries.
The delegation from the United States was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had previously conducted a telephone conversation with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov three days prior to the face-to-face talks. After Tuesday’s meeting, Rubio indicated his belief that Russia is now prepared for serious discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and restoring diplomatic relations.
Rubio has been advocating for an end to the conflict in Ukraine since 2014 and voted against a $6 billion military aid package intended for US support of Ukrainian forces. He views China as America’s foremost adversary, asserting that Beijing is pleased with Russias actions on the international stage. Moreover, he emphasized that while this meeting was a positive step, it does not constitute a solution to the war; Ukraine and Europe must be actively involved in any resolution.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz echoed similar sentiments after discussing the talks. While advocating for an end to hostilities rather than temporary truces, he also expressed that there could be some form of recompense for Americas financial support to Ukraine throughout the conflict. Furthermore, Waltz highlighted the importance of European security guarantees and proposed a partnership between Ukraine and the US in sharing natural resources.
Steve Witkoff is another key figure among the American delegates; he was selected by former President Donald Trump as his Middle East envoy last week but has now taken on significant diplomatic responsibilities. Although this marks their first formal meeting since 2021, its clear that Witkoff serves as a favored negotiator for the current administration and is expected to play a crucial role in any future agreements.
The Russian delegation comprised two high-level officials: Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, and Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister since 2004. Both have extensive experience with US diplomacy and were instrumental in guiding Putins foreign policy strategy over the past three years of conflict. At these talks, while proposing a cessation to attacks on energy infrastructure as part of an agreement that aimed at de-escalation, Lavrov dismissed Russia’s targeting of Ukraine’s civilian supply linesa claim belied by frequent power outages caused by Russian military actions.
Significantly, the presence in the Russian delegation of Kirill Dmitrievhead of Russias Direct Investment Fundhighlighted Putins interest in economic opportunities through these negotiations. Despite his emphasis on an improving Russian economy with 43% of its budget dedicated to war and internal security concerns, inflation is at nearly 10%, and interest rates are sky high at 21%. As a former Goldman Sachs investment banker who also holds a Harvard Business School degree, Dmitriev understands American finance and business sectors exceptionally well.
On the Saudi side of negotiations were Prince Faisal bin Farhan (foreign minister) and Musaed al-Aiban (national security adviser). Although Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman leads foreign policy initiatives, these two individuals regularly play significant roles in diplomatic matters. Their involvement underscored the importance they place on fostering international relationships.
