US and Russia hold preliminary talks in Riyadh without Ukraine
The United States and Russia have not yet reached an agreement on how to commence negotiations concerning the conflict in Ukraine. The meeting in Riyadh is not the start of discussions but merely a continuation of earlier interactions, according to representatives from both countries.
As reported by Reuters, Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, mentioned during an interview with Russian state television that the Russian delegation approaches talks with a "business-like" mindset.
The delegation, set to meet with US representatives in Riyadh on Tuesday, might include Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund. His presence is intended to help facilitate discussions regarding economic concerns that may arise during the talks.
US on "continuing the conversation"
Meanwhile, Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the US State Department, clarified that the meeting in Riyadh is a continuation of the phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I don't think that people should view this as something that is about details or moving forward in some kind of a negotiation" – said Bruce.
On Tuesday in Riyadh, for the first time since the war in Ukraine began, delegations from the United States and Russia will convene. The meeting aims to address the restoration of bilateral relations and lay the groundwork for potential peace discussions concerning Ukraine. The governments of Ukraine and the European Union were not invited to participate in this meeting.
