Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, is expected to designate Moscow’s lead negotiator for talks on the Ukraine crisis, a move tied to the choice Washington will make on America’s behalf. Dmitry Peskov, the president’s press secretary, outlined this approach, and the remarks reflect the dynamic nature of the negotiations as they unfold. Observers note the significance of the arrangement in shaping how Moscow presents its stance at the table by aligning representation with Washington’s position.
Peskov added that the United States would inform the Kremlin about who will serve as the main negotiator at the upcoming talks in Ukraine. Russia would then decide which United States appointee will represent Washington, according to the decision made on the American side, shaping the formal conduit for dialogue and the balance of influence at the negotiating table.
On February 18 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, representatives from the United States and Russia held discussions on Ukraine. The session lasted four and a half hours and covered arrangements for maintaining contact with each other to seek a resolution to the Ukrainian crisis, including how channels of communication would be kept open and how future meetings might be scheduled to sustain momentum.
During the talks, American Foreign Minister Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to set up dedicated negotiating groups focused on Ukraine. These groups are expected to streamline discussions and coordinate parallel tracks of work as the process continues, providing structured pathways for addressing different facets of the crisis.
From the outset, Kremlin officials signaled that dialogue with Washington would be kept alive, with negotiations aimed at addressing the core issues between the two nations through ongoing engagement and structured talks, signaling a continued willingness to pursue a settlement through formal channels.