(VOVWORLD) - Russia-US relations are undergoing significant changes. A negotiation between senior diplomats from Russia and the US, held on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marked a turning point in the Ukraine conflict that began in February 2022 and signals the start of a new phase in the relationship between the two world powers. This development will have a profound effect on the international political and security landscape.
 The US-Russia negotiation in Diriyah Palace, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Feb 18, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) |
The negotiation, which took place less than a week after a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12, demonstrated that both countries are willing to resume direct contact after a prolonged period of intense confrontation.
New relations framework
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that, during the negotiation, he and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the need to dialogue when their national interests are incompatible instead of letting disagreements get out of control and turn into confrontation.
Rubio said trust is the most important thing and he believes that both the US and Russia are serious about promoting a new phase in their relationship.
President Putin agreed, saying, “The solution to all thorny problems, including the Ukraine conflict, is to increase trust between the United States and Russia. Otherwise, it’s impossible. The purpose of the meeting is to enhance trust between the two countries. Russia has never rejected talks with the Europeans or Kyiv.”
The Ryiadh meeting recorded concrete results. The US and Russia agreed to soon appoint new Ambassadors to each other’s country and re-establish large-scale diplomatic missions after many years of diplomatic retaliation. The two also agreed to establish negotiating teams to resolve the Ukraine conflict. They discussed economic cooperation including energy projects in the Arctic, and geopolitics, particularly the US’s relationship with Russia's main partners.
Observers say this meeting confirms that the new US administration has completely reversed its policy towards Russia. Rubio said that once current disagreements are settled, the two countries have a great potential for multi-lateral cooperation.
“Should this conflict come to an acceptable end, the incredible opportunities that exist to partner with the Russians, geopolitically on issues of common interest, and frankly economically on issues that hopefully will be good for the world and will also improve our relations in the long term between these two important countries,” said Rubio.
Europe’s concern
Nations have responded in different ways to the thawing of relations between the United States and Russia. Countries of the global South have reacted positively, as most of them have maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict and have been worried that confrontation between Russia and the West could get out of control, threatening global peace and security.
For European countries, the changing US-Russia relationship brings a sense of insecurity. From Monday to Wednesday, European countries held two consecutive summits in Paris with NATO ally Canada to develop a response to the new geopolitical landscape, where European countries may lose their role in shaping Europe’s future security structure and the outcome of the Ukraine conflict.
Observers note that a key issue is Europe and Ukraine’s exclusion from the US-Russia negotiations. At the emergency meetings in Paris, the UK and France, two of Europe’s strongest military powers, expressed support for sending European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached. They argued that this would help preserve Europe’s voice in the region’s security. But the idea of sending peacekeepers elicited strong opposition from Germany, Poland, and Italy.
Most European countries are maintaining a tough stance toward Russia, but in the long run, they may find it difficult to maintain this stance.
“The question is if the US lifts sanctions on Russia, how long can Europe maintain its own sanctions? There are already discussions about re-importing gas from Russia to Europe when their relations improve. I believe it will become increasingly difficult for Europe to isolate Russia,” said Angela Stent, a European expert at the Brookings Institution.
To address the current uncertainties, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the US and meet with President Donald Trump on Monday. Their primary goal is to strengthen the transatlantic security pillar.