Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The second round of high-level talks between Russian and US delegations has begun in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, following a brief pause. The discussions aim to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and explore potential avenues for mending strained bilateral relations.

The Russian delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is accompanied by presidential aides Yury Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, along with the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The US delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff also present.

The talks, which took place at Diriyah Palace, are the first meeting between Russian and US diplomats since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. Saudi Arabia, which has played a pivotal role in hosting the negotiations, was selected as the venue due to its neutral position, which is acceptable to both parties.

The discussions are seen as a significant step towards preparing a potential meeting between Russian and US presidents, though there have been concerns over the absence of Ukrainian and European Union representatives in the dialogue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed criticism over the exclusion of Ukraine from talks that directly impact its future, while European leaders have raised similar concerns about their lack of involvement in negotiations that could influence regional security.

The presence of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud underscores the kingdom’s growing diplomatic influence, as it continues to play a key role in facilitating dialogue between global powers.