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Russian President Vladimir Putin open to meeting Donald Trump, hails diplomatic talks in Riyadh
- Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his eagerness to meet with US President Donald Trump, stressing the need for thorough preparation to ensure productive discussions. In his televised remarks, Putin praised recent diplomatic talks between Russian and US officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to meet with US President Donald Trump but emphasized the need for proper preparation to ensure a productive discussion.
“I would like to have a meeting, but it needs to be prepared so that it brings results,” Putin said in televised remarks, adding that he would be "pleased" to meet Trump.
He also praised recent talks between senior Russian and US officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, highlighting an agreement to restore strained diplomatic relations.
Also, Putin noted that Trump has acknowledged the resolution of the Ukraine conflict may take longer than he initially anticipated.
US and Russia hold high-level talks on Ukraine war
Top officials from the United States and Russia met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the first round of negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The talks, which lasted over four hours, marked a significant step toward diplomatic engagement between the two nations.
Following the meeting, the US State Department announced that both sides agreed to establish high-level teams to work toward ending the conflict “as soon as possible in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides.”
Russia on Ukraine peace talks with US
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed what he claimed was a US proposal to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. “Moscow does not target civilian installations,” Lavrov asserted, despite reports of widespread damage to Ukraine’s power grid from Russian missile strikes.
Following the talks, Lavrov expressed optimism about the dialogue with the US “Our dialogue was, in my opinion, very useful. We not only listened but also heard each other. And I have every reason to believe that the American side has begun to better understand our position,” he said.
Trump expresses optimism for a deal
Trump said he was “much more confident” that a negotiated settlement could be reached following the discussions. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, he stated, “They were very good. Russia wants to do something.” He also hinted at a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the end of the month.
Ukraine left out, Zelenskyy reacts
The US-Russia talks took place without the participation of Ukrainian officials, sparking concern from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He criticised the exclusion, stating, “We were not invited to this US-Russia meeting, it was a surprise for us and I think for many, too.” Zelenskyy also canceled a planned visit to Saudi Arabia in response to the meeting.
Trump’s comments regarding Ukraine’s political situation also drew backlash. When asked about reports that he was considering a Russian proposal for Ukraine to hold new elections, he responded, “We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, but we have essentially martial law in Ukraine, where the leader in Ukraine — I mean, I hate to say it — but he’s down at 4% approval rating.” However, a recent poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 52% of Ukrainians trust Zelenskyy.
Future Trump-Putin meeting expected
Previously, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the talks in Riyadh as a “very, very important step” in resolving the Ukraine war, which is nearing its third year. While he confirmed discussions about a Trump-Putin summit, he cautioned that a meeting would require time to prepare.
“In order to carry out, figuratively speaking, resuscitation measures, diplomats will now begin to work in light of the agreement Lavrov reached yesterday with Rubio,” Peskov told Russian state media.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the two sides agreed to “lay the groundwork for future cooperation on matters of mutual geopolitical interest” once the war ends. However, no official date has been set for a summit between Trump and Putin.
Next steps in US-Russia relations
White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said Trump is determined to “move very quickly” to secure a permanent settlement in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the delegation, expressed confidence in Russia’s willingness to engage in a “serious process.”
The meeting was the highest-level interaction between US and Russian officials since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As diplomatic efforts continue, Saudi Arabia is being considered as a possible venue for a future Trump-Putin meeting.
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Business NewsNewsWorldRussian President Vladimir Putin open to meeting Donald Trump, hails diplomatic talks in Riyadh
First Published:19 Feb 2025, 08:14 PM IST
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