The head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund stated on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump is a problem solver, just ahead of U.S.-Russian discussions in Saudi Arabia. These talks are anticipated to be pivotal in addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine between the two nations, which were once Cold War adversaries.
This dialogue may set the stage for a summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kirill Dmitriev expressed to reporters in Riyadh, “We view President Trump and his team as effective problem solvers who have tackled significant challenges with speed, efficiency, and success.”
Russia announced that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will engage in discussions with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on resolving the Ukraine conflict and revitalizing the broader spectrum of Russia-U.S. relations. Ukraine has asserted that it cannot accept any peace agreement made without its involvement in the negotiations, from which Kyiv was excluded.
Dmitriev, who has a background in finance as a former Goldman Sachs banker and was educated in the U.S., was instrumental in the initial interactions between Moscow and Washington during Trump’s presidency from 2016 to 2020.
He emphasized the significant economic impact of U.S. businesses exiting Russia, estimating losses around $300 billion, which has affected many countries. “We believe that finding solutions is the way forward,” Dmitriev remarked.
These discussions follow an emergency summit in Paris on Monday, where European leaders convened to formulate a coordinated response after being caught off guard by Trump’s recent initiative for immediate talks with Putin regarding Ukraine. The European leaders committed to increasing defense investments and taking the lead in providing security assurances for Ukraine.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed on X, “There is a profound sense of urgency felt by all. At this pivotal moment for Europe’s security, it is imperative that we continue to support Ukraine.” He added, “Europe must play a role in ensuring the integrity of any agreement, and collaboration with the United States is crucial.”
INITIAL CONTACT
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov on Tuesday in Riyadh, according to officials from both sides. This meeting occurs shortly after Trump assumed office and marks a notable shift from the approach taken by President Joe Biden’s administration, which had avoided public engagements, believing that Russia was not genuinely committed to resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
Since 2014, Russia has occupied parts of Ukraine and initiated a full-scale invasion in February 2022. U.S. officials are framing Tuesday’s discussions as an initial engagement to assess Moscow’s willingness to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. “This is a continuation of the initial dialogue between Putin and President Trump to explore the feasibility of taking that first step, understanding the interests involved, and determining if this can be effectively managed,” stated State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce to reporters in Riyadh.
The Kremlin indicated that the discussions would encompass “the entire complex of Russian-American relations,” in addition to laying the groundwork for negotiations regarding a potential resolution for Ukraine and a meeting between the two presidents.
Russia reported that Lavrov and Rubio spoke on Saturday about eliminating obstacles to trade and investment between their nations. Following the invasion of Ukraine three years ago, then-President Biden and allies in Kyiv implemented multiple sanctions against Moscow, aimed at undermining the Russian economy and constraining the Kremlin’s military operations.
Riyadh, which is also engaged in discussions with Washington concerning the future of the Gaza Strip, has facilitated initial communications between the Trump administration and Moscow, contributing to a prisoner exchange that occurred last week.
ENGAGING WASHINGTON
It remains uncertain how European nations will approach Washington after Trump surprised Ukraine and its European allies by reaching out to Putin, who has been largely isolated by the West. “We align with President Trump on a ‘peace through strength’ strategy,” a European official remarked following the Paris meeting, requesting anonymity.
The U.S. decision has led European countries to recognize the necessity of taking greater responsibility for Ukraine’s security. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who expressed readiness to deploy peacekeeping forces to Ukraine prior to the meeting, stated on Monday that a U.S. security commitment is essential for European nations to send troops. Keith Kellogg,
Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, announced plans to visit Ukraine starting Wednesday and was questioned about the possibility of the U.S. providing security assurances for any European peacekeepers. “I’ve been with President Trump, and the policy has always been: You take no options off the table,” he stated.
Discover more from Defence Talks | Defense News Hub, Military Updates, Security Insights
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
