In a historic shift, the United States and Russia have agreed to work towards ending the conflict in Ukraine and improving bilateral relations during high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
This marks the first face-to-face meeting between senior officials from both nations since the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022. The Russian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin advisor Yuri Ushakov, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
After 4.5 hours of discussions, Envoy Witkoff described the talks as \"positive, upbeat, constructive,\" while Ushakov emphasized the seriousness of the dialogue, highlighting mutual interests and the desire to develop bilateral relations.
The U.S. Department of State announced that both countries will \"establish a consultation mechanism to address irritants to our bilateral relationship,\" aiming to normalize diplomatic operations. Additionally, high-level teams from each nation will begin working on a sustainable and acceptable path to end the Ukraine conflict.
Lavrov called the discussions \"very useful,\" reiterating Russia's firm stance against NATO troop deployments in Ukraine. This meeting signals a potential thaw in the strained relations between Washington and Moscow that have persisted since early 2022.
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has been active in these diplomatic efforts, recently engaging in lengthy phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin to coordinate further negotiations.
The talks have sparked mixed reactions globally. European leaders, who were excluded from the discussions, have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and expressed frustration over their lack of involvement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the talks, stating that negotiations should include Ukraine and condemning the secrecy surrounding them.
As the U.S. and Russia take steps toward dialogue, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that brings lasting peace to the region.
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U.S., Russia agree to improve ties, work on ending Ukraine conflict
cgtn.com
