The United States and Russia moved toward a head-spinning reset of their relationship on Tuesday, agreeing to work together on ending the Ukraine war, financial investment, and re-establishing normal relations. The meeting between senior officials from both countries was a striking display of bonhomie after three years of American efforts to isolate Moscow for its 2022 invasion.
A Striking Diplomatic Turn
After more than four hours of talks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that both sides had agreed to work on a peace settlement for Ukraine as well as to explore “the incredible opportunities that exist to partner with the Russians,” both geopolitically and economically.
“We weren’t just listening to each other, but we heard each other,” Sergey V. Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, said. “I have reason to believe that the American side started to better understand our positions.”
The meeting, the most extensive negotiations in more than three years between the two global powers, signaled Trump’s intention to roll back the Biden administration’s approach toward Moscow, which focused on sanctions, isolation, and sending weapons to Ukraine.
Trump’s Shift in Strategy
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, American officials did not dwell on Russia’s violation of international law in attacking Ukraine, its alleged war crimes, or the devastation Russian shelling and bombardment had wrought. Instead, they repeatedly lauded Trump for trying to stop the fighting by talking to Russia in a way that his predecessor did not.
“For three years, no one else has been able to bring something together like what we saw today, because Donald Trump is the only leader in the world that can,” Rubio declared.
European Concerns and Ukraine’s Reaction
The shift in U.S. policy has raised concerns in Europe and Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted angrily, postponing a planned visit to Saudi Arabia in protest.
“It is important that negotiations do not happen ‘behind the backs of the key subjects,’” Zelensky said. “Any decisions cannot be imposed on Ukraine.”
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Business Ties on the Table
Russia appeared to be using Tuesday’s talks to cater to Trump’s interest in profits and natural resources, arguing that American oil companies and others stood to gain hundreds of billions of dollars by again doing business in Russia.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, said he would seek to restart economic cooperation with the United States to “rebuild communication, rebuild trust, rebuild success.”
“We believe at some point they will be coming back,” Dmitriev stated. “Why would they forgo these opportunities that Russia gave them to have access to Russian natural resources?”
According to Dmitriev, American companies lost approximately $300 billion after withdrawing from Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Next Steps in U.S.-Russia Relations
Following the discussions, Rubio outlined a three-step plan:
- Diplomatic Normalization: The U.S. and Russia will negotiate the removal of restrictions on each other’s embassies, which are operating with skeleton staffs after years of tit-for-tat expulsions.
- Ukraine Peace Negotiations: The two sides will engage with Ukraine and European partners on “parameters of what an end” to the Ukraine war would look like.
- Economic and Geopolitical Partnerships: Both nations will explore new opportunities for cooperation in business and global affairs.
A Meeting with Broader Implications
Tuesday’s discussions were the first time after Putin’s invasion in early 2022 that broad delegations of senior American and Russian officials are known to have met in person. The venue in Riyadh further underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a diplomatic broker.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry framed the talks as part of the kingdom’s broader efforts to promote global security. “We welcome the Russians and Americans as part of the kingdom’s efforts to enhance security and peace in the world,” the statement read.
As Trump’s second term unfolds, the world will be watching closely to see how this renewed U.S.-Russia engagement shapes the future of international relations.