US, Russia Agree to Work Toward Ending Ukraine War During First Peace Talks

What Happened?

Senior U.S. officials met with Russian leaders in Saudi Arabia for peace talks based on Russia-U.S. ties.

The focus surrounded discussions on ending the three-year war in Ukraine and improving negotiations amid pressure from European leaders.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly led delegations behind closed doors Tuesday at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh.

President Donald Trump, in his second term, aims to reverse three years of U.S. policy that focused on isolating Russia, according to CBS News.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters that Rubio and Lavrov had agreed to appoint ‘high-level teams to begin working on a path to ending the conflict in Ukraine.’

‘As soon as possible in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides,’ Bruce added.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Rubio said Russia and the U.S. agreed broadly to pursue three goals.

Those objectives included restoring staffing at their respective embassies, creating a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and exploring closer relations and economic cooperation.

But Rubio stated more work still needs to be done which marked the beginning of these efforts.

Why it Matters

European leaders are reportedly growing concerned however amid the Trump administration's approach to ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials and European allies feel they're being sidelined and have been given a 'cold shoulder' with Moscow and the U.S. participating in direct negotiations.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, alongside European leaders, gathered for emergency talks Monday at the Elysee Palace ahead of the U.S. scheduled trip to Russia.

U.S. envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg told reporters this week at NATO headquarters that he didn't think it’s reasonable and feasible to have everybody sitting at the negotiating table early on.

Kellogg is headed to Kyiv Wednesday to visit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of his scheduled trip.

World leaders like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that any possible peace agreement with Russia cannot be forced on Ukraine from the outside.

How it Affects You

Ukrainian officials remain on high alert after an armed drone reportedly hit the protective outer shell of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.

The Kremlin has since denied any responsibility for the airstrike attack.

Before any peace talks with Russia began, President Zelenskyy stated his country wanted 'security guarantees' from the U.S. despite Ukraine's NATO membership request rejection.

Kellogg emphasized that nobody would impose a deal 'on an elected leader of a sovereign nation.'

Other U.S. officials like U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the war between Ukraine and Russia 'must end.'

Trump still believes his administration's efforts will result in a win.

It’s unclear if Trump's strategies will further push some European allies away during these critical stages.