High-level diplomatic talks between the United States and Russia over the ongoing war in Ukraine commenced in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the most significant direct discussions between the two nations since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The US delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin's foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov are heading the Russian side.

These talks come as a major shift in Washington’s diplomatic approach, as previous US policy under President Joe Biden avoided direct negotiations with Moscow. However, President Donald Trump's administration has taken a different stance, opting for direct dialogue with Russia—without the presence of Ukraine or European allies.

Ukrainian officials have strongly opposed the negotiations, asserting that no agreement on Ukraine's future can be made without their involvement. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is also expected to visit Riyadh for separate discussions with Saudi leaders, has rejected the legitimacy of the US-Russia talks, emphasizing that any peace settlement must include Ukraine’s direct participation.

Meanwhile, in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg to discuss the implications of the US-Russia negotiations. European leaders have expressed concerns that any deal reached without their involvement could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and European security.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke with President Trump and Zelenskyy following an emergency European summit, reiterated that a sustainable peace agreement must include Russian withdrawal from occupied territories and credible security guarantees for Ukraine.

The Riyadh talks follow a week of intense diplomatic activity, with European leaders scrambling to form a unified strategy after Trump’s unexpected push for negotiations with Russia. European nations have signaled their willingness to provide security guarantees for Ukraine but remain uncertain about the level of future US support.

As discussions in Riyadh unfold, the outcome remains uncertain, with global attention focused on whether Washington and Moscow can find common ground without alienating Ukraine and its European allies.