RIYADH (Reuters) – The governments of the United States and Russia reached a significant milestone on Tuesday as they embarked on a collaborative effort to address the pressing issues affecting their bilateral relationship. The primary focus of this initiative is to lay the groundwork for the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, a conflict that has plagued the region for far too long. The State Department, in a statement, emphasized that this joint undertaking is still in its nascent stages.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz, and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in extensive discussions that spanned over 4.5 hours with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Saudi Arabia. This meeting served as a follow-up to a recent conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Among the topics broached were the establishment of a framework to tackle the various issues impeding progress in their bilateral relations, with the ultimate objective of restoring normalcy in diplomatic interactions, elucidated State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.
Furthermore, both parties appointed high-level teams tasked with devising strategies to swiftly bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine in a manner that is not only prompt but also sustainable, ensuring the satisfaction of all involved stakeholders. The State Department underscored the significance of this gathering, characterizing it as a pivotal milestone in a potentially transformative process.
“It is imperative to recognize that one mere phone call and a single meeting cannot suffice to lay the foundation for lasting peace,” remarked Bruce.
(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Ed Osmond and Chizu Nomiyama)
