Saudi Arabia hosts contentious US-Russia talks on Ukraine

Russia stated that the United States has a better understanding of its position on the Ukraine issue after talks held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. These talks have been controversial, with Ukraine condemning the fact that it was not included in the discussions.

Saudi Arabia hopes to achieve a diplomatic victory by hosting these talks and strengthen its relationship with Washington. Simultaneously, Riyadh will also host an important Arab summit this week regarding the future of Gaza.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, as well as a range of U.S. officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "I think the conversation was very useful. We not only listened, but we also heard each other, and I have reason to believe that the American side has a better understanding of our position," Lavrov said at a press conference after the talks.

Lavrov also hinted that the U.S. is open to lifting sanctions imposed since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He told reporters, "There is a keen interest in eliminating artificial obstacles to the development of mutually beneficial economic cooperation." Saudi Arabia also views these talks as an opportunity to repair its relationship with the United States, which has been severely damaged by U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza war.

Before the Gaza war, Saudi Arabia was expected to follow its neighbors, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, in establishing open relations with Israel, a process that began during Donald Trump's first term. However, the destruction in Gaza and the more than 48,000 casualties have largely collapsed this process, with Mohammed bin Salman accusing Israel of committing genocide and stating that no relations are possible without a Palestinian state.

Although the Crown Prince maintained a strong relationship with the former Trump administration, the situation is more strained this time, and the Saudi Kingdom has also pushed back against the U.S. President's plans to "take over" Gaza. Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told Middle East Eye that the talks are an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to transcend its role as a regional power.

Ibish stated, "By convening talks related to the war with Russia, Saudi Arabia is able to elevate its position as an emerging regional power and play a role in international and global affairs. It wants to be in the same league as countries like South Africa, Brazil, India – maybe not as powerful as them, but influential beyond the Middle East."

Saudi Arabia's involvement in the Ukraine issue also sees it striving to play a leading role in the future of Gaza, but does not want to be hindered by it. Saudi Arabia plans to host a summit of four Arab nations on Friday to discuss Trump's Gaza proposal. Trump's threat to "empty" Gaza, which was enthusiastically endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has shocked Arab countries, who fear being forced to accept the 2 million Palestinians at risk of expulsion.

Earlier this month, Riyadh slammed Netanyahu's suggestion that a Palestinian state could be established in Saudi Arabia. Amin Tarzi, an adjunct professor of international relations at George Mason University, told Middle East Eye that Friday's Gaza summit is a further attempt to establish itself as a leader and power broker – not only between major powers like the U.S. and Russia, but also within the region itself.

Tarzi explained, "Part of the reason Saudi Arabia is hosting and leading proposals regarding the reconstruction of Gaza by Egypt without displacement is to preempt and offer alternatives to possible alternative plans the U.S. might have that involve the involuntary displacement of Palestinians from Gaza." Tarzi stated that by "taking the reins of defending the Palestinian cause from Iran," Riyadh is helping to "reestablish itself as a peacemaker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and as a leader in the broader Muslim-Arab world."

Representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates will attend the meeting in Riyadh on Friday. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will also be present, according to AFP. Last week, Rubio stated that the U.S. is "eager" to hear new proposals from Arab governments regarding Gaza, but "the only plan right now – they don't like it – but the only plan is Trump's plan."

Following Tuesday's meeting, Russia and the United States reached an agreement to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stated that discussions would focus on "territory" and "security guarantees." "This needs to be a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one like in the past," Waltz said at a press conference. Russia and the U.S. have also reportedly agreed to exchange ambassadors.

Many European countries are angered by the U.S. breaking the isolation imposed on Russia since 2022 and excluding Ukraine from the meeting. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy slammed the U.S. on Tuesday for holding talks "about Ukraine" but "without Ukraine." Speaking in Ankara, he said, "We did not accept ultimatums in 2022, when the situation was much more serious and no one helped us, and I have no intention of accepting any ultimatums." Zelenskyy stated that Turkey should be included in the talks.

Compared to Europe, several Middle Eastern countries, including U.S. allies Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, have maintained relations with Russia since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have all attempted to act as mediators in the Ukraine conflict, hosting Ukrainian and Russian officials at different times and facilitating prisoner exchange agreements.