Russia demands more as US sits for Ukraine talks without Kyiv

Riyadh: On February 18, 2025, the United States and Russia held a significant meeting in Riyadh to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine, marking the first such direct talks between the two countries on the conflict. The meeting, which lasted for over four hours, was pivotal as it was the first time U.S. and Russian officials sat down together to discuss the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two.

The talks, however, took place without Ukrainian representation, leading to strong objections from Kyiv, which has insisted that no peace deal should be concluded without its consent. Despite this absence, U.S. and Russian officials have pledged to continue working on finding a resolution to the conflict.

Russia's demands were notably more rigid during the discussions, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stating that it was insufficient for NATO to merely refrain from admitting Ukraine but that the alliance must formally retract its 2008 promise to eventually offer membership to Kyiv. Furthermore, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear that Moscow would not tolerate NATO troops stationed in Ukraine, regardless of which country’s flag they operated under.

The talks between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Russian officials, including Lavrov and foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, also touched on the potential for lifting economic sanctions imposed on Russia, though no immediate commitments were made.

The absence of Ukraine at these talks has sparked concerns in both Ukrainian and European circles, with fears that the discussions could lead to a peace deal that overlooks Ukraine’s security interests and sovereignty. Despite these tensions, both sides have agreed to appoint high-level teams to continue negotiations with the aim of reaching a sustainable resolution.