Putin’s administration issues statement on negotiations in Saudi Arabia
Photo: Yuriy Ushakov, Kremlin aide (moldova.mid.ru)
Russia intends to negotiate how to "start talks on Ukraine" during a meeting with US representatives in Saudi Arabia, states Kremlin aide Yuriy Ushakov, according to RIA-Novosti.
"The current issue is to agree on how to start negotiations on Ukraine," Ushakov said.
At the same time, the official added that the US has not yet appointed a negotiator to engage with Russia on ending the war.
According to Ushakov, the talks with the US will be bilateral and were coordinated over the phone.
"On our side, naturally, there will be the Foreign Minister (Sergey Lavrov), myself, and possibly (head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund) Kirill Dmitriev on economic matters," the Kremlin aide specified.
Russia-US negotiations in Saudi Arabia
A meeting between Russian and American officials is set to take place in Riyadh tomorrow, February 18. One of the main topics on the agenda will be the settlement of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The American side will be represented by US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs Steve Witkoff, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.
Reacting to this information, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not recognize any outcomes of such negotiations, as they are taking place without its participation.
More details on the Russia-US meeting can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report.
