A high-level Russian delegation, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, has arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for direct talks with U.S. officials.
Addressing reporters upon arrival, Ushakov stated, “The main goal is to begin real normalization of relations between us and Washington.”
Similarly, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Riyadh ahead of the discussions, which aimed to broker a peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking in the Saudi capital, Rubio emphasized that the meeting would focus on ending the war and restoring the broader Russia-U.S. relationship.
Senior U.S. officials, including Rubio, are scheduled to meet Lavrov on Tuesday for what will be the first high-level talks in years between the two governments. The discussions are expected to lay the groundwork for a potential meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the meeting would primarily address the restoration of Russian-American relations, alongside discussions on a possible Ukraine peace settlement and preparations for a future presidential summit.
Peskov added, “The talks will focus on re-establishing the full spectrum of Russian-American ties, as well as organizing negotiations between the two presidents.”
