RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — On Tuesday, high-level discussions took place in Saudi Arabia between top diplomats from Russia and the United States, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations and exploring pathways to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This meeting signifies a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.

No representatives from Ukraine were present during the discussions. This is particularly notable as Ukraine is currently struggling to regain lost territory against the increasing might of Russian forces in a persistent war that has been ongoing for nearly three years. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that Ukraine rejects any agreements emerging from this week’s discussions without their participation. Additionally, European allies have voiced concerns about being excluded from the dialogue.

The meeting, which involved U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and other senior officials, aims to repair the fraught relations between the two nations, which have reached a low not seen in decades. The discussions are intended to set the stage for a potential meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Apprehensions from Allies About Exclusion

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the primary goal of the talks is to “restore the complete range of U.S.-Russian relations while also preparing for potential discussions on settling the situation in Ukraine and organizing a presidents’ meeting.” U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce noted that the aim is to gauge Russia’s earnestness about achieving peace and the feasibility of commencing detailed negotiations.

The recent surge in U.S. diplomacy regarding the war has left Ukraine and its allied nations striving to ensure their involvement in talks, with worries that the U.S. and Russia might forge a deal that overlooks their best interests.

Ukraine’s absence at Tuesday’s meeting has displeased many Ukrainians, prompting France to convene an emergency meeting of European Union and U.K. leaders on Monday to discuss the ongoing conflict.

Bruce emphasized that while Ukraine wasn’t part of Tuesday’s discussions, any genuine peace negotiations will include their participation. Previously, U.S. policy under Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, firmly established Ukraine’s involvement in such talks as critical, reflecting international efforts to isolate Russia amidst the war.

White House officials have countered claims of European exclusion, noting that U.S. administration leaders have been in dialogue with multiple European heads of state.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron reported that he had spoken via phone with Trump and Zelenskyy following his Paris meeting. “We aspire to a robust and enduring peace in Ukraine,” Macron communicated on the social media platform X. “To achieve this, Russia must cease its aggression, which should be accompanied by strong, credible security guarantees for Ukraine,” he added, reiterating a commitment to collaborate with all European nations, the U.S., and Ukraine.

Peskov indicated that Putin has consistently shown a willingness to engage in peace negotiations, asserting that achieving a “comprehensive, long-lasting settlement” regarding the conflict in Ukraine necessitates a thorough examination of European security matters.

The Role of Saudi Arabia

The gathering at the Diriyah Palace in Riyadh underscores Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambition to emerge as a pivotal figure in global diplomacy, counteracting damage to his reputation following the high-profile 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi state media reported that the discussions took place at the prince’s direction. Much like the nearby United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia has maintained strong ties with Russia throughout its military actions in Ukraine, both through the OPEC+ oil alliance and diplomatic channels.

Saudi Arabia has also played a role in prisoner negotiations and hosted Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit earlier in 2023. Zelenskyy announced plans to visit Saudi Arabia later this week.

Rubio was joined by U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Lavrov was accompanied by Kremlin’s foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and national security adviser Musaed al Alban participated in the opening of the meeting but were expected to leave early.

Before the discussions commenced, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, emphasized the significance of the meeting, stating, “Robust relations between the U.S. and Russia are crucial for addressing global challenges and conflicts that require collaborative solutions,” noting that his focus would be on economic topics.

The Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channel highlighted that Moscow’s priority is “genuine normalization with Washington.”

This meeting marks the most significant engagement between the U.S. and Russia since Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022. Notably, Lavrov and the then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a brief exchange during a G-20 meeting in India nearly two years ago, and U.S. and Russian intelligence leaders convened in Turkey in late 2022 amid concerns regarding a possible nuclear escalation by Russia.

Ongoing Conflict

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine, utilizing drones. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russian forces targeted Ukraine with a total of 176 drones overnight, most of which were either intercepted or rendered ineffective through jamming efforts.

One drone strike hit a residential building in Dolynska, Kirovohrad region, injuring a mother and her two children, necessitating the evacuation of 38 apartments. Additionally, debris from drones damaged four other residential structures in the Cherkasy region, as reported by local officials.

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Litvinova reported from Tallinn, Estonia. Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, Illia Novikov in Kyiv, and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.