On February 18, 2025, the first large-scale negotiations in recent years between delegations from Russia and the United States began in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, aimed at discussing the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine and the normalization of bilateral relations. The meeting is taking place in the Diriyah Palace in the Albasatin complex.

The Russian side is represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. The American delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff. Representatives of Saudi Arabia, including Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and National Security Advisor Musaed bin Mohammed al-Aiban, are also taking part in the talks.

Before the meeting, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), expressed optimism about possible progress in the negotiations in the next two to three months. He stressed the need to resume economic cooperation between Russia and the United States, noting that American oil companies could return to the Russian market to jointly develop natural resources. Dmitriev also pointed to the importance of joint projects in the Arctic and other strategically important regions.

The talks in Riyadh are taking place amid concerns from Ukraine and European countries that were not invited to participate in the discussions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would not accept any agreements reached without Kyiv's participation, stressing the need to take Ukraine's interests into account in the conflict resolution process. European leaders gathered in Paris expressed dissatisfaction with their exclusion from the negotiating process and stressed the importance of developing a common position to ensure security in the region.

Observers note that the current negotiations could become a turning point in relations between Russia and the United States, and also influence the further development of the situation in Ukraine. However, the absence of representatives of Ukraine and European countries at the negotiating table raises questions about the legitimacy and sustainability of possible agreements.