U.S. delegation meets Saudi leaders ahead of talks with Russia

Senior U.S. officials, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for high-level diplomatic meetings ahead of crucial talks with Russian counterparts aimed at addressing the Ukraine war. The American delegation, including National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud.

The upcoming U.S.-Russia discussions, notably planned without Ukrainian representation, mark one of the first high-level, face-to-face encounters between officials from both nations in recent years. The Russian delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who have departed Moscow for the Saudi capital.

Speaking in Moscow before departure, Lavrov expressed optimism about ending what he termed an "absolutely abnormal period" in U.S.-Russian relations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that the talks would focus on rebuilding U.S.-Russian relations and laying groundwork for potential negotiations regarding Ukraine, including the possibility of arranging a meeting between the two nations' presidents.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce clarified that the primary objective is to assess Russia's genuine commitment to peace and explore the possibility of initiating detailed negotiations. The meetings in Riyadh represent a significant diplomatic development, occurring during Rubio's first Middle East tour as Secretary of State, following his visit to Israel.

This diplomatic engagement in Saudi Arabia positions the kingdom as a potential mediator in efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, while also serving as a venue for possible improvement in U.S.-Russian relations that have been severely strained in recent years.