Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, told the State Duma that Moscow will not rush to restore full alignment with Western capitals. He explained that Russia is not sprinting toward reconciliation with Europe and the United States, and he argued that recent months have not seen Moscow take actions to escalate hostility. At the same time he noted that Western capitals have taken steps that have contributed to a deeper chill in relations. Lavrov pressed for diplomacy grounded in mutual respect and the protection of sovereignty, insisting that exchanges should be guided by genuine interests rather than public grandstanding. He described Moscow’s approach as timely and proportional, designed to respond to reciprocal moves and to address shared concerns about security. The thrust of the program, he hinted, is to keep channels open, to assess concrete, verifiable moves, and to insist on parity in any dialogue with Western partners who have often linked engagement to political goals Moscow does not share. The foreign minister stressed that Moscow will not promise more than the current geopolitical climate reasonably allows, and that the diplomatic effort will evolve in step with tangible, verifiable steps that demonstrate reciprocity rather than performative statements.
During the same appearance, Lavrov insisted that Russia does not intend to abandon dialogue or withdraw from international diplomacy. He argued that Russia has not taken measures to freeze relations and has, in fact, faced a relentless campaign to undermine ties with Western states, including those in Europe. The foreign minister framed the period as one of patient, principled diplomacy, where Moscow seeks to defend its security interests and to address legitimate concerns about European security architecture. Meaningful normalization, in his view, will come only through reciprocal steps, direct engagement, and a recognition of Russia’s position on sovereignty and security guarantees. He called for a responsible, durable partnership rather than gestures that fail to reflect the complexities of modern geopolitical relations and that do not acknowledge Russia’s security considerations. The message was clear: dialogue remains essential, but it must be grounded in mutual restraint, verifiable progress, and a shared understanding of core interests rather than empty posturing.
On February 18, negotiators from the United States and Russia met in Riyadh for about four and a half hours. The session was described as solidly productive, focused not on a single breakthrough but on keeping lines of communication open and exploring practical steps that could influence the trajectory of the Ukrainian crisis. Participants looked for ways to sustain contact, reduce the risk of miscalculation, and align on basic parameters that might eventually enable higher level diplomacy. Authorities signaled that a meeting between the presidents could be feasible if both sides demonstrated willingness to balance core interests with pragmatism. In parallel, separate Russian and American negotiators were expected to initiate more targeted contacts on Ukraine, signaling a shift from broad rhetoric to issue-based diplomacy. The atmosphere was cautious, and the aim was to translate talk into tangible actions without overpromising outcomes.
Early reflections in the United States suggested that Russian negotiators had gained some leverage in the talks, while analysts cautioned that substantial progress would require patience and consistent follow-through. Yuri Ushakov, a senior Kremlin adviser, described the Riyadh discussions as constructive and stated that Moscow and Washington are committed to strengthening bilateral engagement while respecting each side’s core concerns. He stressed that the ongoing work aims to set the stage for high-level talks and to build tangible steps toward a possible meeting between the two countries’ leaders. The overall tone of the exchanges was cautious and measured, reflecting the high stakes tied to the Ukraine conflict and the broader security environment in Europe. The exchanges in Riyadh are part of an ongoing effort to keep diplomacy alive, even when tensions run high, with the understanding that steady, predictable communication can prevent drift toward miscommunication and crisis.