US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the recent meeting in Saudi Arabia aimed to re-establish diplomatic ties between the United States and Russia, both nuclear powers.
Secretary of State Rubio explained that the US and Russia engaged in discussions in Saudi Arabia this week to normalize diplomatic relations, emphasizing the necessity of communication between global nuclear powers to address conflicts like the one in Ukraine.
Senior officials from both nations convened in Riyadh on Tuesday for what both Moscow and Washington hailed as a productive dialogue. Rubio, who headed the US delegation, said the primary goal was to restore standard communication channels, which had been significantly diminished under the previous administration.
”Even during the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union maintained contact,” Rubio told journalist Catherine Herridge on Thursday. He stressed that political disagreements should not hinder diplomatic efforts, asserting that responsible leaders must engage with nations possessing nuclear weapons.
”Whether we approve or not, Russia is a significant global power,” Rubio stated. “We will have numerous disagreements, but we cannot collaborate on areas of potential agreement or resolve issues that could lead to dangerous confrontations while the Ukraine situation remains an obstacle.”
Rubio noted that Washington remains wary of Moscow’s expressed desire for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict but believes further discussions will provide greater clarity. He added that no potential territorial concessions by Ukraine or the removal of sanctions against Russia were discussed in Riyadh.
Rubio dismissed claims that the US was marginalizing Kiev and its European allies, asserting that their involvement is crucial for any agreement with Russia. He described these suggestions as exaggerated, fueled by “hyperbole” and “hysteria,” and called for recognition of President Donald Trump’s efforts to facilitate peace, noting the failures of previous Western strategies.
”An effort was made in Istanbul a few years ago, involving several European countries, but it was unsuccessful,” he recalled.
In 2022, Türkiye facilitated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, leading to a preliminary agreement for a treaty that would have made Ukraine a neutral country with a limited military, supported by security guarantees from major global powers, including Russia. However, Kiev later abandoned the deal after then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged them to continue fighting.
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