The meeting in Saudi Arabia was not a peace talk; Russia anticipates progress in discussions with the US within two to three months.

US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce emphasized that the meeting between Russian and US representatives in Saudi Arabia should not be viewed as the start of negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. As she clarified, this is merely the first step, during which the US will evaluate how “serious” Moscow is about concluding the war in Ukraine.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, part of the Russian delegation traveling to Riyadh, stated that the parties plan to “agree on how to begin talks on Ukraine since the American side has not yet appointed its chief negotiator.”

Additionally, another member of the Russian delegation, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, indicated that Russia believes it can achieve “progress” in discussions with the US in the next two to three months. He also accused the Biden administration of “lacking the desire to understand Russia’s concerns” but added that “now the US is prepared to listen and comprehend Russia’s position.”