MOSCOW – Russian and U.S. diplomatic teams are set to meet this week to explore ways to improve bilateral relations, which have reached their lowest point since the Cold War due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
The meeting follows a February 12 conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed ending the conflict in Ukraine and improving U.S.-Russia relations. This was followed by a February 18 meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Riyadh.
Ryabkov, who handles U.S.-Russia relations for Moscow, confirmed that the upcoming talks will be at the level of departmental heads and are scheduled for the end of the week. He stated, “We are open to contacts with the American side, in particular, on irritants in bilateral relations… We are waiting for real progress when the meeting… takes place,” as reported by state news agency TASS.
The U.S.-Russia dialogue comes as Trump seeks to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, which he claims has resulted in massive casualties. He has expressed confidence that both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are open to negotiating a settlement.
During his February 12 remarks, Trump reiterated that NATO membership for Ukraine is not feasible, aligning with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s view that Ukraine is unlikely to regain its 2014 borders. Currently, Russia controls nearly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, as well as 75% of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, and over 99% of Luhansk region.
Russia maintains that the land under its control is now Russian territory protected by its nuclear umbrella, a stance firmly rejected by Ukraine and its Western European allies. In June 2024, Putin outlined his conditions for ending the war: Ukraine must abandon its NATO ambitions and withdraw troops from all four regions claimed by Russia.
The conflict, now in its fourth year, has led to severe geopolitical tensions and significant human suffering. The upcoming U.S.-Russia talks are seen as a critical opportunity to de-escalate hostilities and explore diplomatic solutions.