U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Engages in High-Level Talks in Riyadh
Rubio meets Russian officials to discuss bilateral relations, the Ukraine conflict, and regional issues.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday as part of a diplomatic visit to engage in discussions with Russian officials.
Scheduled discussions on Tuesday will include Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to President Vladimir Putin on foreign policy.
The talks will center around restoring comprehensive Russia–U.S. relations and addressing potential negotiations concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as indicated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Joining Rubio for the discussions will be U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
These meetings mark some of the first in-person engagements between U.S. and Russian officials in several years, highlighting a significant moment in diplomatic communication.
The Riyadh meetings precede a planned encounter between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a recent telephone conversation in which Trump instructed his officials to commence negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia has played a noteworthy role in facilitating early contacts between the Trump administration and Moscow, with efforts that contributed to a recent prisoner swap between the two nations.
Additionally, Riyadh is involved in discussions with Washington concerning the future of the Gaza Strip.
In his discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Rubio is expected to address a proposal for resettling Palestinian residents of Gaza in other Arab nations, alongside a leadership role for the United States in reconstruction efforts.
However, reports indicate that Saudi officials and other Arab nations have rejected resettlement proposals and are formulating alternative plans, which may include a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and measures aimed at mitigating the influence of Hamas.
On Sunday, Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, reiterating support for Israel amidst its ongoing regional tensions with Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates on the same day, is also visiting the region with planned stops in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, though he is not expected to take part in the talks in Riyadh.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that the scheduled meetings in Riyadh will proceed as planned on Tuesday.
Scheduled discussions on Tuesday will include Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to President Vladimir Putin on foreign policy.
The talks will center around restoring comprehensive Russia–U.S. relations and addressing potential negotiations concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as indicated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Joining Rubio for the discussions will be U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
These meetings mark some of the first in-person engagements between U.S. and Russian officials in several years, highlighting a significant moment in diplomatic communication.
The Riyadh meetings precede a planned encounter between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a recent telephone conversation in which Trump instructed his officials to commence negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia has played a noteworthy role in facilitating early contacts between the Trump administration and Moscow, with efforts that contributed to a recent prisoner swap between the two nations.
Additionally, Riyadh is involved in discussions with Washington concerning the future of the Gaza Strip.
In his discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Rubio is expected to address a proposal for resettling Palestinian residents of Gaza in other Arab nations, alongside a leadership role for the United States in reconstruction efforts.
However, reports indicate that Saudi officials and other Arab nations have rejected resettlement proposals and are formulating alternative plans, which may include a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and measures aimed at mitigating the influence of Hamas.
On Sunday, Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, reiterating support for Israel amidst its ongoing regional tensions with Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates on the same day, is also visiting the region with planned stops in Saudi Arabia and Turkey, though he is not expected to take part in the talks in Riyadh.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that the scheduled meetings in Riyadh will proceed as planned on Tuesday.
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