U.S. and Russia Hold Preliminary Talks in Saudi Arabia as Ukraine and Gaza Crises Loom

The discussions, excluding Ukraine from the table, aim to explore potential resolutions for the Ukraine conflict and broader geopolitical tensions.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are meeting in Riyadh for talks focused on U.S.-Russia relations and the Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine is notably absent from the discussions, a decision criticized by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who reaffirmed that no decisions about Ukraine should be made without its participation.
The meeting is seen as a precursor to a potential summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, though no date has been set for their encounter.
Saudi Arabia's role as host highlights its growing ambition to mediate in international conflicts and strengthen its diplomatic influence.
In parallel, Israel and the U.S. are discussing a controversial plan proposed by Donald Trump to take control of Gaza and relocate its population, a proposal that has been widely condemned internationally.