Senior officials from the United States and Russia are scheduled to meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and explore avenues for improving bilateral relations. The U.S. delegation will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, while Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov. Notably, Ukrainian officials have been excluded from these talks, raising concerns in Kyiv and among European allies about potential unfavorable settlements. The discussions aim to assess Russia's commitment to peace and may pave the way for a future meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
European Response and Concerns
In response to the U.S.-Russia negotiations, European leaders are convening an emergency summit in Paris to formulate a unified stance. There is apprehension that Europe's exclusion from the talks could sideline their interests and those of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that any peace negotiations must include Ukraine and its European allies. Additionally, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to deploy British peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of a potential peace agreement, underscoring the UK's commitment to European security.
Russian Economic Outlook
The Russian economy is exhibiting initial signs of cooling, with declines in sales and orders across various sectors attributed to high interest rates and inflation. Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov has identified lower oil prices, budget constraints, and rising corporate debt as significant risks. Industries such as food production, chemicals, wood processing, and machine building are experiencing slowed growth, with notable drops in automotive sales. The ministry is collaborating with the central bank and finance ministry to balance inflation control with economic growth.
Security Concerns
President Zelenskyy has warned that Russian President Putin may have intentions to target NATO countries, despite ongoing discussions with the U.S. regarding the Ukraine conflict. Zelenskyy highlighted intelligence suggesting that Russia is preparing military exercises in Belarus, potentially involving 150,000 troops, which could precede attacks on NATO members such as Lithuania and Poland. He stressed the importance of U.S. support for Ukraine and expressed concerns about any peace deal formulated without Kyiv's involvement.
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