Russia and US Agree to Restore Embassy Staffing Amid Ukraine Conflict Talks

Russia and the United States agreed on Tuesday to begin working toward ending the conflict and improving diplomatic and economic ties.

A Russian delegation led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with a US team headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh, marking the first official face-to-face discussions between the two nations since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“We have agreed to take account of each other’s interests and develop bilateral relations, since both Moscow and Washington are interested in this,” said Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, following the discussions.

Lavrov underscored the urgency of restoring diplomatic representation, calling it the simplest yet most pressing task. He stated that ensuring the earliest possible appointment of Russian ambassador to the United States and the United States to Russia was a key agreement, which he described as “the most urgent and not the most difficult.”

Lavrov also criticized the previous US administration under Joe Biden for imposing obstacles that complicated diplomatic missions, including what he called “endless expulsions of diplomats,” to which Russia had responded in kind.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the importance of reestablishing embassies in Washington and Moscow. He noted that fully functioning diplomatic missions are essential for maintaining communication channels needed for ongoing negotiations.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Rubio outlined key goals the two sides had agreed to pursue, including restoring embassy staffing, creating a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and exploring closer economic cooperation.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce called the meeting “an important step forward” but cautioned, “One phone call followed by one meeting is not sufficient to establish enduring peace.”

However, US negotiator Michael Waltz stressed that President Donald Trump is committed to swiftly pursuing a potential peace deal in Ukraine, stating that “an endless war in Europe is not acceptable to Trump.”

Separate teams of US and Russian negotiators will begin communications on Ukraine “in due course,” said Yuri Ushakov, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

European allies and Ukrainian officials have voiced concerns about being sidelined by direct negotiations between Washington and Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly stated that Ukraine does not recognize any agreements between Russia and the United States reached without Kyiv’s participation.

European nations also expressed unease over their exclusion from the talks. Addressing these concerns, Rubio asserted, “No one is being sidelined here.” He reiterated the goal of ending the conflict through a resolution acceptable to all parties involved.

“Today is the first step of a long and difficult journey, but an important one,” Rubio said, expressing optimism about the future of US-Russia relations.

The meeting is seen as laying the groundwork for a potential summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, no date has been set. Ushakov hinted that a meeting is “unlikely” next week, while US Representative Michael Waltz suggested it could take place in the coming weeks.

This historic dialogue marks a turning point in US-Russia relations, which have been at their lowest in decades due to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing war in Ukraine.