- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Feb. 18, to discuss diplomatic and economic relations, including a potential path to ending the war in Ukraine. The two sides agreed to three key steps: restoring embassy staffing, forming a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks and exploring economic cooperation.
- The U.S. and Russia excluded Ukraine from the talks, leading President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reject any agreements made without Ukraine’s participation.
- The United Arab Emirates has played a role in mediating prisoner swaps between Russia and Ukraine. The U.S. and Russia consider hosting formal peace talks at the UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia.
Full Story
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials at Diriyah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, Feb. 18. This marked the highest-level meeting between the U.S. and Russia since the Ukraine war began in 2022.
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The talks aimed at restoring diplomatic relations and ending the war in Ukraine.
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What agreements were made?
The State Department said that both countries agreed to three key steps:
- Restoring embassy staffing in Washington and Moscow
- Forming a high-level team to support Ukraine peace negotiations
- Exploring economic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia
Was Ukraine involved in the talks?
The U.S. and Russia excluded Ukraine from the discussions, a decision that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly rejected.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not accept any agreements made without its participation.
Following the meeting, Zelenskyy postponed a planned visit to Saudi Arabia.
How did Trump respond?
While speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump made controversial remarks about Ukraine. He suggested that Ukraine should have ended the war sooner and implied that earlier negotiations could have prevented the conflict.
Trump has previously questioned continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine and has emphasized diplomacy over direct support.
What is the UAE’s role in diplomatic efforts?
After the meeting in Saudi Arabia, Rubio traveled to the United Arab Emirates and met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The meeting occurred at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, where Ukraine and Russia displayed military equipment despite Western sanctions on Moscow.
The UAE has played a key role in mediating prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine. Alongside Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Russia have considered it as a potential location for formal peace talks.
Additionally, the two nations have considered Saudi Arabia a possible venue for a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This development could elevate Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s diplomatic standing.
What was discussed regarding Gaza?
During his meeting with Rubio, Sheikh Mohammed rejected a U.S. proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt. Arab nations and Western allies have widely opposed the Trump administration’s proposal.
The UAE leader emphasized that any reconstruction efforts in Gaza provide a long-term peace solution based on a two-state agreement between Israel and Palestine.
How is the UAE involved in the Ukraine conflict?
The UAE has maintained economic ties with both Russia and Ukraine. Russian investment continues to flow into Dubai’s real estate market, and daily flights between Moscow and the UAE provide a lifeline for Russian citizens, including those avoiding military conscription.
Ukrainians have also sought refuge in the Emirates, using it as a hub for financial and diplomatic activities.
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What are the next diplomatic steps?
Arab leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE and Qatar will meet in Riyadh to discuss alternatives to Trump’s Gaza proposal. The countries will present their recommendations at the Arab League summit in Cairo in March.
Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg has arrived in Kyiv to discuss security concerns and ongoing negotiations with Zelenskyy and Ukrainian military leaders.
Tags: ceasefire, Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Russia, Russia-Ukraine War, Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Ukraine Defense Ministry, United Arab Emirates
[craig nigrelli]
SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO IS IN the united arab emerites TODAY, CONTINUING HIS TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER YESTERDAY’S MEETING WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS IN SAUDI ARABIA, WHERE THEY DISCUSSED ENDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE.
AFTER THAT MEETING, RUBIO SAID THE U-S AND RUSSIA HAVE AGREED TO NOT ONLY START WORKING TOWARD ENDING THE WAR, BUT ALSO IMPROVING DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC TIES between U.S. and Russia.
RUBIO TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE two countries HAVE AGREED ON THREE GOALS: RESTORING STAFFING AT THEIR RESPECTIVE EMBASSIES IN WASHINGTON AND MOSCOW, CREATING A HIGH-LEVEL TEAM TO SUPPORT UKRAINE PEACE TALKS, AND TO EXPLORE CLOSER RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION.
UKRAINE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TALKS to end the war AND UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAID HIS COUNTRY WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY OUTCOME FROM THEM BECAUSE OF THAT.
HE ALSO POSTPONED HIS OWN TRIP TO SAUDI ARABIA SCHEDULED FOR TODAY.
MEANWHILE, WHILE SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS AT MAR-A-LAGO, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DIRECTED these REMARKS AT UKRAINE.
TRUMP
“Today I heard, well, we weren’t invited. Well, you’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
ALSO TODAY, KEITH KELLOGG THE U.S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR UKRAINE AND RUSSIA ARRIVED IN KYIV TODAY FOR talks WITH UKRANIAN PRESIDENT ZALENSKY AND military commanders. ZELENKSKYY HAS SAID ANY SETTLEMENT, ENDING THE 3-YEAR WAR, WILL REQUIRE AMERICAN SECURITY COMMITMENTS TO KEEP RUSSIA AT BAY.,
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Bias Summary
- U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, marking significant contact since the conflict began.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated they agreed on key points, including restoring embassy staffing and creating a team to negotiate an end to the conflict.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed discontent over not being included in the talks, stating, "We cannot recognize anything or any agreements about us without us."
- Concerns were raised by European allies about being sidelined from discussions, as no concessions have been offered by Russia.
Bias Comparison
Media outlets on the left
emphasize a reversal in U.S. Foreign policy, portraying it as a significant diplomatic event with a positive outlook on negotiations.
Media outlets in the center
focus on facts with a neutral tone, emphasizing the omission of Ukraine from the talks.
Report an issue with this comparison
Bias Distribution
30 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
30
Leaning Left
6
Center
10
Leaning Right
1
Last Updated
2 days ago
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