[2-18-2025 & 2-19-2025 published].

(I'm combining multiple relevant posts that help us better understand what was accomplished in Riyadh between the US & Russian diplomats on February 18th. — RAD)

US Team

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
• Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor
• Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy

Russian Team

• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
• Yury Ushakov, Presidential Foreign Policy Aid
• Yury Ushakov, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)

Riyadh meeting first of its kind ‘since after Cold War’ – expert

by RT [2-18-2025 published].

The US has recognized Russia’s “interests and concerns, ”Valdai analyst Dmitry Suslov has told RT.

The meeting between Russia and the US in Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a fundamental change in Washington’s approach to dealing with Moscow, Dmitry Suslov, a member of the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, has told RT.

High-profile Russian and American delegations met in Riyadh on Tuesday to explore ways to restore diplomatic ties, lay the groundwork for a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, and advance efforts toward resolving the Ukraine conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who led Moscow’s team, said both delegations worked “quite successfully” on improving relations; they “not only listened but also heard each other”.

According to Suslov, the “recognition” by the US of Russia’s “interests and concerns” was extremely important, as it was the first such acknowledgment in more than four decades.

“This is the first full-fledged and official high-level US-Russian meeting in three years and the first meeting in more than 40 years in which the United States has had a discussion, a dialogue that recognizes Russian interests and addresses Russian concerns,” he told RT.

“This changes the entire paradigm of their [US] policy toward Russia, not just in recent years, but in the entire post-Cold War period,” Suslov, who is also a deputy director of World Economy and International Politics at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, and a Valdai Club expert, noted.

A statement made on the eve of the talks by one of Russia’s delegation, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, also drew the expert’s attention. In a comment to CNN, Dmitriev estimated that US companies lost more than $300 billion by leaving the Russian market amid Ukraine-related sanctions. When asked by the outlet’s reporter Matthew Chance whether Russia was hoping to negotiate a lifting of sanctions, Dmitriev stated that the restrictions were “not that important.”

According to Suslov, Russia may have identified a key factor that could appeal to the “pragmatically oriented” Trump administration, namely “money, resources.” He argued that financial considerations, particularly profits and losses, were central to Trump’s decision-making.

“If the US wants to minimize the losses and start making profit again on the Russian market, then it’s in the interests of the US to lift the restrictions,” the Valdai Discussion Club expert argued.

The Valdai Discussion Club is a Moscow-based think tank and forum that brings together international experts, academics, and policymakers to discuss Russia’s role in global affairs. Established in 2004, it is named after Lake Valdai, where its first meeting was held. The club is known for hosting high-profile discussions, often attended by Russian leaders, including President Putin.

Russia, US agree to normalize embassy operations — Rubio

by TASS [2-18-2025 published].

"Active work of diplomatic missions capable of functioning normally will be needed to be able to continue contacts," the US Secretary of State said.

NEW YORK, February 18. /TASS/. Russia and the United States have agreed to restore their embassies in Moscow and Washington to previous staffing levels to facilitate continued diplomatic engagement, said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

"We will need active work of diplomatic missions capable of functioning normally to be able to continue these contacts," Rubio was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

The agency said the increase in the number of diplomats in Moscow and Washington is necessary to accelerate work on an agreement to settle the conflict in Ukraine.

According to Lavrov, Moscow and Washington agreed to ensure the appointment of ambassadors in both capitals as soon as possible.

Washington hails Russia meeting

The State Department has called talks in Saudi Arabia “an important step” towards resolving the Ukraine conflict.

The US State Department has hailed Tuesday’s high-level discussions between American and Russian officials as a significant stride towards resolving the Ukraine conflict.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior members of President Donald Trump’s administration met with their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce conveyed Washington’s optimistic outlook and objectives following the gathering in Riyadh.

“One phone call followed by one meeting is not sufficient to establish enduring peace. We must take action, and today we took an important step forward,” according to a statement, referencing Trump’s call to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.

The statement said that Moscow and Washington will pursue further trust-building measures aimed at addressing “irritants to our bilateral relationship,” including the normalization of American and Russian diplomatic missions on each other’s soil.

High-level teams will focus on seeking a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict, while also laying the groundwork for “future cooperation on matters of mutual geopolitical interest.” The Trump administration anticipates “historic economic and investment opportunities” arising from a successful resolution to the conflict, with officials committed to proceeding “in a timely and productive manner.”

In addition to Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff represented the US in Riyadh. The Russian delegation included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov, and Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Both Moscow and Washington expressed hope that the talks will pave the way for an in-person meeting between Trump and Putin soon. Russian officials have characterized the discussions as “mostly good” and “positive.”

Moscow and Washington have reiterated their commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict after over a decade of tensions and nearly three years of hostilities.

Russia has insisted upon a comprehensive resolution that addresses the root causes of the conflict, including NATO’s expansion in Europe since the 1990s. It has also said that any solution must include Ukraine agreeing to remain a neutral state and acknowledging the “realities on the ground.”

West will have to reconsider Russia sanctions as part of Ukraine peace deal – Rubio

by RT [2-18-2025 published].

Ending the conflict could open up “historic” opportunities for US-Russian relations, the US secretary of state has said.

The US and its allies will have to address the sanctions imposed on Russia in order to achieve an “enduring, sustainable” solution to the Ukraine conflict, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in Riyadh on Tuesday. Washington is interested in developing economic cooperation with Moscow after the hostilities are brought to an end, he added.

Rubio held a press conference along with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff after meeting with the Russian delegation in Saudi Arabia’s capital. Moscow was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov, and Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).

The two sides discussed the conflict and a range of bilateral issues, including restoring diplomatic contacts. Both delegations hailed the meeting as constructive and positive.

Rubio said the issue of sanctions relief could be a part of a peace process aimed at putting an end to the Ukraine conflict.

“In order to bring an end to any conflict, there have to be concessions made by all sides,” the secretary of state said. He did not elaborate on the potential concessions, adding that the issue has not been discussed with the Russian side yet.

The top US diplomat maintained that the process of sanctions removal would have to involve Washington’s allies in Europe as well. “The EU is going to be at the [negotiations] table at some point because they have sanctions as well that have been imposed.”

The goal pursued by US President Donald Trump’s administration is to “bring an end to the conflict in a way that is fair, enduring, sustainable and acceptable to all parties involved,” Rubio said, adding that stopping the Ukraine conflict could open up some unprecedented opportunities for economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington.

The US would need to identify “credible opportunities… to partner with the Russians geopolitically, on issues of common interest and… economically on issues that hopefully will be good for the world and also improve our relations in the long term” once the Ukraine conflict is brought to an “acceptable end,” he said, adding that those opportunities could be “pretty unique” and “potentially historic.”

Over the past three years, the US and EU have imposed unprecedented sanctions against Moscow. This policy has cost American companies an estimated $300 billion in losses associated with leaving the Russian market, according to RDIF data.

Trump speaks to journalists after Russia talks

by RT [2-19-2025 published].

The US president has said he is even more confident about brokering a deal to end the Ukraine conflict.

President Donald Trump spoke to reporters hours after high-profile US-Russia talks on how to end the Ukraine conflict concluded in Riyadh on Tuesday. He remained optimistic about brokering a peace deal and criticized Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky.

Trump said he felt “much more confident” about the prospects of a lasting peace and reiterated that his immediate goal is to “save lives.”

On cash for Ukraine

Trump said NATO countries and Kiev must make sure that aid provided to Ukraine is not wasted. “They have to pay. They have to find out where the money is going.”

“President Zelensky said last week that he doesn’t know where half of the money is that we gave him,” Trump stated. “Where is it going? I’ve never seen an accounting of it.”

The president was apparently referring to Zelensky’s interview with podcaster Lex Fridman last month, in which he said Kiev had “not received the half” of the funds promised by Washington.

On negotiations

Trump argued that Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials are in no position to complain about not being invited to the talks in Riyadh. He added that he is “very disappointed” with Kiev.

“Today I heard, ‘We weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years, you should’ve ended it… You should’ve never started it. You could’ve made a deal.”

On Zelensky

The US president described Zelensky as deeply unpopular at home. “The leader in Ukraine – I hate to say it – but he’s down at a 4% approval rating,” Trump claimed.

“When they want a seat at the [negotiating] table, you could say – wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have to say, ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election.”

According to the New York Times, Zelensky’s approval rating has dipped to around 50% from the 90% he enjoyed during the first months of the conflict in 2022. Zelensky’s five-year presidential term expired in May 2024 and he has refused to call new elections, citing martial law.

On ‘European peacekeepers’

Trump said he would welcome an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine in case of a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev. “If they want to do it, that’s great. I’m all for it. I would not object to it at all,” he said. Trump stressed that US troops would not be involved in any peacekeeping arrangement.

Putin confirms Russia ready to resume Ukraine talks

by RT [2-19-2025 published].

The president has commented on the results of the recent meeting between representatives of Moscow and Washington in Riyadh.

Moscow has never shut the door on peace negotiations over Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday after being briefed on the results of the meeting between Russian and US representatives in Riyadh. It was the EU and Kiev that broke all contact with Russia, he added.

No one is excluding Kiev from the negotiation process, according to the Russian president. Both Moscow and Washington expect Ukraine to take part, Putin said, adding that it is largely up to Ukraine and the EU to decide whether they want to be part of the talks or not.

“I’ve said this 100 times: If they are willing, they are free to engage in such talks,” Putin told journalists, referring to potential peace negotiations with Kiev and the EU’s participation. “We are ready to go back to the negotiating table.”

“Russia has never walked away from the negotiation process with Ukraine, never,” the president told reporters in St. Petersburg.

He stressed that it was Kiev that banned officials from engaging in any talks with Moscow. It “withdrew from the Istanbul negotiations and publicly announced it,” he said.

The president hailed the results of the Russia-US talks in Saudi Arabia’s capital on Tuesday.

Resolving the Ukraine conflict would be impossible without the normalization of relations between Moscow and Washington, Putin said. The meeting was primarily aimed at “increasing trust” between the two nations, he added.

The meeting was “the first step” in restoring joint work with the US in a variety of areas ranging from strategic stability and arms control to the resolution of the Ukraine conflict and the crisis in the Middle East.

Putin also welcomed what he described as positive changes in Washington’s attitude towards working with Moscow.

The atmosphere of the talks was “very friendly,” Putin said, adding that the US is represented by “absolutely different people, who are open for talks without any prejudices… and committed to joint work.”

Putin said he would be glad to meet with US President Donald Trump, though it’s too early yet to name a specific date for a summit, because a simple “coffee hour” would not be enough to remedy relations between the two nations and both sides need to thoroughly prepare. Moscow and Washington nevertheless “do not need any mediators” to sort out their differences, he added.

Speaking earlier, Trump also praised the talks in Riyadh, calling them “very good” and saying he felt “much more confident” after the US-Russia meeting. “I think I have the power to end this war, and I think it’s going very well.”

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said ahead of the talks that Kiev would not recognize the results, as Ukrainian representatives were not invited. He postponed a planned visit to Saudi Arabia to not give the meeting “any legitimacy.” Trump hit back at the Ukrainian leader, saying Kiev has had three years to make a deal itself.

Rebuilding ties, restoring peace: Key takeaways from Russia-US talks

by RT [2-18-2025 published].

Sergey Lavrov has described the meeting with the US delegation as “useful”.

Russia and the US have taken the first steps towards normalizing relations after an impasse which lasted years under the administration of Joe Biden.

Delegations from Moscow and Washington met on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss the restoration of diplomatic ties, future Ukraine peace talks, and an upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump.

The Russian team included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, presidential aide Yury Ushakov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev. Representing the United States were Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy Ambassador Steve Witkoff.

Here’s what the sides said following the meeting, which lasted nearly 4.5 hours:

Russia and the US will work to restore diplomatic missions

According to Lavrov, the talks were useful and both delegations worked “quite successfully” on improving relations.

One of the first steps agreed upon during the meeting, he explained, is to once and for all solve the issue of diplomatic missions, given that both countries had exchanged a number of diplomatic expulsions during the Biden administration, resulting in a breakdown of communications between Moscow and Washington.

As part of this, Moscow and Washington have committed to appoint ambassadors to each other’s countries as soon as possible and remove the “artificial barriers” that had been built by the Biden administration to “seriously complicate” the work of Russia’s diplomatic missions and hinder the development of normal relations, Lavrov said.

The deputy heads of the diplomatic departments of the two countries will soon meet to put an end to these issues, among which Lavrov listed the seizure of Russian real estate in the US and the restrictions on bank transfers for the Russian side.

The US has started to listen to Russia

The Russian and American delegations “not only listened, but also heard each other” during the talks, Lavrov said. The US has begun to better understand Russia's position, which Moscow has repeatedly outlined over the years, he added.

The minister admitted that it does not mean that the national interests of the two countries would no longer be in conflict, but it is important that the two sides are working to establish a dialogue.

Lavrov said that Russia and the US have expressed an interest in resuming consultations on resolving geopolitical issues and removing barriers to economic cooperation, noting that the American side has demonstrated a “determination” to “move forward” in bilateral relations.

Russia’s position on Ukraine and NATO

The Russian side reiterated its position on the Ukraine conflict, primarily the fact that Kiev’s absorption into NATO would represent a direct threat to Moscow, Lavrov said at a press conference after the talks.

He also stressed that the deployment of troops from NATO states to Ukraine, whether under the European Union flag or national flags, would also be unacceptable for Russia.

The Russian side expressed its appreciation to Trump for becoming the first major Western leader to acknowledge that Ukraine’s NATO ambitions had been one of the primary catalysts for the conflict, Lavrov added.

Moscow and Washington have agreed to respect each other’s interests

Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said that the delegations held a “very serious conversation on all issues” that the sides wanted to address. However, he noted that it’s difficult to say whether the positions of the two countries have grown closer.

At the same time, he noted that Russia and the US have agreed to “take each other’s interests into account” while also advancing bilateral relations.

Russia and US will discuss the Ukraine conflict

Ushakov noted that while the US and Russia have outlined their positions on the Ukraine conflict, it will be up to the “teams of negotiators” from both states to make progress on this issue “in due course.”

“The Americans should appoint their representatives, we will appoint ours, and then, probably, the work will get underway,” Ushakov said.

Relations could improve in a matter of months

RDIF chief Kirill Dmitriev said that the delegations had communicated “with respect” and on equal terms, going on to suggest that the two sides could make significant progress in talks in a matter of two or three months.

He admitted it’s too early to talk about any compromises, but the meeting has laid “important grounds” for dialogue. The officials underscored the need for cooperation and economic opportunities that could contribute to both nations.

“We need to pursue joint projects, including, for example, in the Arctic and other areas,” he said.

Putin-Trump summit date still unclear

Following Tuesday’s talks, Ushakov noted that it is still difficult to name a specific date for the high-level summit, stating that it is “unlikely” that it will take place next week as had been previously suggested in the media.

US agrees to normalize relations with Russia

The US State Department announced after the talks that Marco Rubio and his team had agreed with the Russian delegation to create a “consultation mechanism” to address the irritants in bilateral relations and normalize the operations of the two countries’ diplomatic missions.

As part of this, Rubio has announced that Russia and the US had agreed to restore the previous number of diplomatic personnel at their respective embassies in Moscow and Washington following years of tit-for-tat diplomatic cuts.

Moscow and Washington will also need to examine the future geopolitical and economic cooperation that will come after the Ukraine conflict is resolved, Rubio said.

Special team to work on Ukraine solution

Washington also announced that Russia and the US have agreed to appoint high-level teams that would work on finding a path towards resolving the Ukraine conflict as soon as possible and to ensure a sustainable peace that is acceptable to all sides.

State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stressed that “one phone call followed by one meeting” was not enough to establish an enduring peace. She stated that while Tuesday’s meeting was an “important step forward,” more still needs to be done.

Ukraine solution must be ‘permanent’ – Trump adviser

The past has shown that temporary measures are insufficient, Mike Waltz has said.

The Ukraine conflict requires a lasting resolution, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has said following high-level talks between Russia and the US in Saudi Arabia.

Waltz was part of the US delegation in Riyadh, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Washington’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The head of the Russian delegation, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, has stated that the two countries agreed to start the process of resolving the Ukraine conflict.

”This needs to be a permanent end to the war, and not a temporary end, as we’ve seen in the past,” Waltz told a press conference in Riyadh.

The Minsk agreements of 2014 and 2015 were supposed to stop the fighting between Ukraine and the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. Moscow repeatedly accused Kiev of violating the accords, leading to the decision by President Vladimir Putin to launch the military operation in 2022.

Germany and France, the guarantors of the failed accords, later admitted that they only signed them to buy Kiev time to build up its military.

Speaking after talks in Riyadh on Tuesday, Waltz said the negotiations on the Ukraine conflict will focus on territory and security guarantees.

The formerly Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye joined Russia following a series of referendums in 2022. Crimea previously voted to join Russian in 2014. Ukraine seeks to return them to its control, while Russia rejects Kiev’s claims outright.

US President Donald Trump recently suggested that Kiev could get some of the territory back, adding, however, that a return to the pre-2014 borders is “unlikely.”

Moscow has insisted that any peace settlement must address the root causes of the conflict, including Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have since discounted the likelihood of membership for Kiev as an outcome of a peace settlement.

At the Munich Security Conference last week, Zelensky stated that if Ukraine is not admitted into the US-led military bloc, it will require substantial assistance from the US and EU to build an army comparable in size to Russia's.

RDIF head expects some US companies to return to Russia in second quarter of 2025

by TASS [2-19-2025 published].

Kirill Dmitriev said earlier that US businesses had lost over $300 bln after leaving Russia.

MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) expects a number of US companies to return to the Russian market in the second quarter of 2025, RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev told TASS.

"RDIF expects that a number of American companies will return to the Russian market as early as in the second quarter of the year. However, the return process won’t be easy for US companies as many niches are already occupied by others," he pointed out.

Dmitriev said on Tuesday that US businesses had lost over $300 bln after leaving Russia.

According to data provided by the RDIF head, the majority of losses occurred in the IT and media sector ($123 bln). Consumer sector and health companies lost $94 bln, followed by financial companies ($71 bln), industries ($26 bln) and the energy sector ($10 bln). The total losses that US businesses suffered stand at about $324 bln.