The United States and Russia have agreed to form negotiating teams to explore a path toward ending the war in Ukraine, following high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. However, neither Ukraine nor the European Union was invited to participate in the discussions, fueling concerns in Europe over Washington’s shifting stance on Russia.

The meeting in Riyadh, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, marked the first direct engagement between the two superpowers since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While no date was set for a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both sides acknowledged that negotiations would be a prolonged process.

The U.S. announced that it would establish a consultation mechanism with Moscow to address broader bilateral concerns, signaling a potential thaw in relations. However, Russia provided fewer details, merely confirming that separate teams would follow up on discussions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s demand for a restructuring of Europe’s security framework, including the withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe—a long-standing Russian objective.

The absence of Ukraine from the talks drew sharp criticism from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stated that Kyiv would not recognize any agreements made without its direct involvement. While in Turkey for discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, Zelenskyy also confirmed he would visit Saudi Arabia but had no plans to engage with U.S. or Russian officials.

European leaders, who convened for emergency talks in Paris on Monday, remain divided on how to respond. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the EU’s critical role in supporting Ukraine and called for partnership with the U.S. in any peace efforts. Meanwhile, China cautiously welcomed the negotiations, urging the inclusion of all stakeholders in future discussions.

The United States and Russia have agreed to form negotiating teams to explore a path toward ending the war in Ukraine, following high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. However, neither Ukraine nor the European Union was invited to participate in the discussions, fueling concerns in Europe over Washington’s shifting stance on Russia.

The meeting in Riyadh, led by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, marked the first direct engagement between the two superpowers since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. While no date was set for a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both sides acknowledged that negotiations would be a prolonged process.

The U.S. announced that it would establish a consultation mechanism with Moscow to address broader bilateral concerns, signaling a potential thaw in relations. However, Russia provided fewer details, merely confirming that separate teams would follow up on discussions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s demand for a restructuring of Europe’s security framework, including the withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe—a long-standing Russian objective.

The absence of Ukraine from the talks drew sharp criticism from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who stated that Kyiv would not recognize any agreements made without its direct involvement. While in Turkey for discussions with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, Zelenskyy also confirmed he would visit Saudi Arabia but had no plans to engage with U.S. or Russian officials.

European leaders, who convened for emergency talks in Paris on Monday, remain divided on how to respond. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the EU’s critical role in supporting Ukraine and called for partnership with the U.S. in any peace efforts. Meanwhile, China cautiously welcomed the negotiations, urging the inclusion of all stakeholders in future discussions.