Russia Denies Follow-Up Talks With U.S. Officials in Saudi Arabia
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday dismissed reports of a follow-up meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week, saying no such talks were scheduled.
“There are no meetings in Riyadh with the participation of the Foreign Ministry today,” the ministry was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was visiting Tehran on Tuesday for talks with Iranian officials.
The denial comes a week after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lavrov held discussions in the Saudi capital, marking the first direct talks between high-level American and Russian officials since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
That meeting resulted in an agreement between the two sides to appoint negotiators for potential peace talks on the Ukraine war and to establish a “consultation mechanism” to address disputes.
Earlier, media reports claimed that lower-level U.S. and Russian officials were set to meet Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with anonymous diplomatic sources describing it as a “sign of progress” in relations between the countries.
The diplomatic push follows a phone call earlier this month between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which unsettled European leaders and signaled a shift from the previous U.S. administration’s policy of isolating Russia.
Trump on Monday expressed confidence in ending the war in Ukraine and said he expected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House within two weeks to sign a deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rare mineral resources.
Putin later said Russia was open to U.S. investment in strategic minerals in Russian-occupied Ukraine and that American and Russian companies were already “in touch” regarding joint economic projects linked to resolving the war.
AFP contributed reporting.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an „undesirable“ organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a „foreign agent.“
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work „discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.“ We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
