Russian and U.S. officials have no plans to meet in Saudi Arabia this week for diplomatic talks, the Kremlin confirmed Monday, dismissing reports suggesting otherwise.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refuted a CNN report claiming that Trump administration officials were set to hold separate discussions with Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia. The report, citing an unnamed source, did not specify who would have attended the meetings.
The denial follows President Donald Trump’s statement on Sunday that “big meetings” in Saudi Arabia would involve Russia. Since taking office, Trump has emphasized improving relations with Moscow.
Last month, top Russian and U.S. diplomats met in Riyadh, agreeing to launch negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. A subsequent meeting in Turkey between lower-level officials focused on normalizing diplomatic operations after a series of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.
“We’re at the initial stage of restoring our bilateral relations. The road ahead is quite long and difficult, but at least the two presidents have expressed their political will in this direction,” Peskov told reporters.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for discussions with U.S. officials aimed at establishing a peace framework and securing an initial ceasefire. Washington’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, emphasized the U.S. desire to lay the groundwork for a peace agreement.
Last week, the U.S. temporarily paused military aid to Ukraine, including intelligence sharing and access to satellite imagery, as part of an effort to pressure Kyiv into negotiations with Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Peskov stated that Russia hopes the upcoming U.S.-Ukrainian talks in Jeddah will demonstrate Ukraine’s “willingness to achieve peace.”
