Russia and the US have agreed to establish diplomatic channels for ending the Ukraine war after 4.5 hours of talks in Riyadh, marking their first high-level meeting since Russia's invasion.
The initiative came after President Trump made a surprise call to Putin without consulting Ukraine or European allies, signaling a dramatic shift in US diplomatic approach.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz emphasized the need for a permanent solution, with discussions to cover territory and security guarantees, as Trump pushes for rapid progress.
Russia's sovereign wealth fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev indicated potential restoration of economic ties, including joint investments and Arctic cooperation.
The talks have raised concerns in Kyiv and European capitals that Trump might settle the conflict on Moscow's terms, especially after Washington suggested Ukraine's NATO aspirations were "unrealistic."
Russia maintained its hard-line stance, emphasizing "initial reasons" for the conflict must be addressed and ruling out European participation in the talks.
Both sides agreed to appoint ambassadors and remove diplomatic obstacles, with discussions about lifting US sanctions against Russia.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, caught off guard by the talks, stressed that no peace deal could be achieved without Ukraine's involvement.
European leaders are planning an emergency meeting in response, with divisions emerging over potential peacekeeping deployments.
The US claims to be conducting "shuttle diplomacy" with allies, though European countries are scrambling to regain influence in the peace process.
@B376PMP1mo1MO
I believe that Ukraine should regain full sovereignty over all of the territory it has lost to Russia including Crimea
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