By Guardian-Jakub Krupa /Adam Fulton-Tue 18 Feb 2025

European officials not part of discussions as Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns his country will not recognise peace deals made without Ukrainian participation

US-Russia talks in Riyadh start

The talks between the US and Russia are now under way in Riyadh, Reuters says.

3m ago11.49 GMT

Meanwhile in Brussels, European Commission spokespeople are heroically trying not to go beyond the readout from von der Leyen’s meeting with US Ukraine envoy Kellogg (10:25).

They have spent last 30 or 40 minutes dancing around fishing questions about what was said behind the closed doors, including if there were any guarantees that Europe would eventually get a seat at the table.

And deputy chief spokesperson Stefan de Keersmaecker is running out of ways to say the variation of “I don’t think there’s anything I can add to the readout that has been made available.”

The current line appears to be:

There can be no just and lasting peace with Ukraine without Ukraine, and there can be no just and lasting peace with Ukraine without the European Union.

This is a matter that concerns the security of Ukraine and of the European Union, and it’s with the partners that we will reach and work towards a just and lasting peace.

EU’s foreign policy spokesperson Anitta Hipper went a bit further:

Russia is the aggressor. Russia needs to pay, and this is what we need to do to make and ensure that Ukraine stands strong.

This means more ammunition, more weapons, more defense. Putin only understands this language of power. So this is something that we will need to do, and we are doing in a united way.

And Russia is a threat, not only to Ukraine, but beyond Europe. So we need to stop Russia.

In the last few minutes, de Keersmaecker was also asked about a social media post from Kellogg, in which he thanked Costa for a meeting (describing him as “the EU president”) but didn’t mention his talks with von der Leyen.

“Unfortunately, although we at the Commission can do quite a lot of things, we cannot read the minds of other people,” he responded with a deep sigh.

36m ago11.16 GMT

US-Russia talks in Riyadh break for working lunch

Russian foreign ministry has just said that talks in Saudi Arabia have now broken for working lunch.

Here they are enjoying the break in talks:

(Turns out the earlier 15-minute pause we reported earlier was something else, probably just a coffee break or something!)

42m ago11.10 GMT

Who is who in the room where it happens in Riyadh

USSR

Pjotr Sauer - Russian affairs reporter

US:

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (left)

A New York property developer who has known Donald Trump for decades and is now at the centre of his foreign policy team. Witkoff is credited with pressuring Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a Gaza ceasefire deal.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio (second left)

Once a staunch critic of Donald Trump, Rubio has since become one of his closest allies, making history as the first Latino to serve as the nation’s top diplomat.

The 53-year-old former Florida senator has advocated a hardline stance on China and Iran while opposing additional funding for Ukraine.

US national security adviser Mike Waltz (third left)

A decorated war veteran and three-term congressman from Florida, Michael Waltz was an early and steadfast supporter of Donald Trump during his first presidency.

Known for his hawkish stance on China and Iran, Waltz has also served as an advisor to multiple Republican administrations.

RUSSIA:

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (right)

A stalwart of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov has served as the country’s foreign minister for over two decades. Throughout his career, he has been a vocal critic of western interference in other nations’ affairs and a staunch opponent of liberal values. However, his actual influence over Putin remains a matter of debate.

Russia’s chief foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov (second right)

The 77-year-old Ushakov has been Putin’s top foreign policy aide for over a decade but has largely remained behind the scenes.

Previously, he served as Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. from 1998 to 2008, gaining valuable experience in negotiations with Washington.

THE HOSTS:

Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Saudi national security adviser Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban (center) joined the start of the meeting but were expected to leave early in the talks.

1h ago10.52 GMT

European Council president António Costa posted a brief update after his meeting with US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg.

Peace cannot be a simple ceasefire – we need an agreement that will ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine and security in Europe.

Ukraine can count on Europe. We are ready to continue to work constructively with the US to ensure peace and security.

1h ago10.36 GMT

Russia looking for sanctions relief - analysis

In Riyadh, Russia is expected to use discussions on a potential Ukraine settlement as leverage to push for sanctions relief.

Leading Moscow’s economic negotiations is Kirill Dmitriev, the 49-year-old head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a close friend of Putin’s daughter. A former investment banker, Dmitriev has played a key role in Russia’s outreach to international investors.

Although he was not present during the meetings between Russian officials Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov and their US counterparts, Dmitriev held separate discussions in Riyadh.

“US oil majors have done very well in Russia,” Dmitriev said in a brief interview on Tuesday morning before the talks began. “We believe that, at some point, they will return – why would they pass up the opportunities Russia has provided for access to its natural resources?,” he asked.

1h ago10.31 GMT

US-Russia talks in Riyadh resume after 15-minute break

Julian Borger-Senior international correspondent

Russian and US delegations in Riyadh have resumed talks after a 15-minute pause, a TASS correspondent reports.

1h ago10.25 GMT

US-Russia talks in Riyadh break for lunch

We are getting a line from Russia that there is now a pause in discussions in Riyadh, as the two sides broke for lunch. It’s just after 1pm there.

We are also told to expect a press conference from Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov after the meeting.

2h ago10.07 GMT

Only US can provide deterrence to stop Putin from attacking again, UK defence secretary says

Let me just bring you another passage from UK defence secretary John Healey’s event in London, as he discussed the potential deployment of UK troops to Ukraine.

This is what he said:

We need a security guarantee for Ukraine in Ukraine that is capable of delivering what President Trump has pledged and says he wants, which is a durable peace that requires an end to the Russian attack and no repeat of that in the future.

The European countries have to play a leading part in that guarantee, but require a backstop from the US, because in the end, it is only the US that can provide the deterrence to Putin that will prevent him attacking again.

The detail of that is being developed. Keir Starmer will discuss that with President Trump when they meet shortly.

But the one thing I’m not going to do is discuss details of the work that we’re doing, the discussions we’re having with allies and with the US, because the one thing I don’t want to do is make Putin any wiser.

2h ago10.00 GMT

We are in new era of threat, UK defence secretary warns

UK defence secretary John Healey has been speaking at the Institute for Government in London in the last few minutes.

In a broader speech focusing on his plans for reforming armed forces, he warned that “the decisions that we make right now over the coming weeks will not only define the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine, but the security of our world for a generations to come.”

He argued that “the test of leadership, of political leadership, isn’t just about managing the immediate, it’s also about reforming for the future.”

“We are in a new era of threat, and that demands a new era for defence,” he said.

You can follow more from him in our UK live blog here:

Nigel Farage says Tories ‘not on the right in any measurable way’ and calls Labour government ‘miserable’ –

2h ago09.53 GMT

Putin ready to talk to Zelenskyy 'if necessary,' Kremlin says, but questions Ukrainian president's legitimacy

As the talks in Riyadh continue behind the closed doors, we have been getting some lines from the Kremlin, via Reuters and AFP.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin would be ready to talk to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy “if necessary,” but appeared to question his legitimacy.

“Putin himself said that he would be ready to negotiate with Zelensky if necessary but the legal basis of agreements needs discussion considering the reality that Zelensky’s legitimacy can be questioned,” he told reporters.

He also said that the issue of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union was its sovereign right and that Russia did not intend to dictate to Kyiv how it should approach the question – but it would draw a line when it comes to military alliances.

“We are talking about integration and economic integration processes. And here, of course, no one can dictate anything to any country, and we are not going to do that,” Peskov said.

But on Nato, he said: “There is a completely different position, of course, on security-related issues related to defence or military alliances.”

In comments that are likely to cause further alarm in central and eastern Europe, Peskov also said that “a lasting and long-term viable resolution is impossible without a comprehensive consideration of security issues on the continent.”

He also added that the talks in Riyadh might provide more clarity on a possible meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, but there is no understanding on this question yet.

2h ago09.25 GMT

EU wants to work alongside US in 'critical moment' for Ukraine, von der Leyen tells US envoy Kellogg

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told US envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellog that the European Union wants to “work alongside the US to end the bloodshed and help secure the just and lasting peace that Ukraine and its people rightfully deserve,” according to a readout released by her office.

Von der Leyen also presented Kellogg with “Europe’s plans to scale up defence production and spending, reinforcing both European and Ukrainian military capabilities.”

“Reaffirming the EU’s commitment to a just and lasting peace, the President reiterated that any resolution must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, backed by strong security guarantees,” the note said.

“As the President made it clear: now is a critical moment,” it added.

ago09.12 GMT

'Decision, actions, coherence - quickly,' Macron says of Europe's plans for Ukraine

Speaking of France’s Emmanuel Macron, we didn’t hear from him last night, but he posted a social media update after the talks.

“After bringing together several European leaders, I have just spoken with President @realDonaldTrump and then with President @ZelenskyyUa,” he said.

He asserted that European partners “seek a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine,” as “Russia must end its aggression, and this must be accompanied by strong and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians.”

Repeating similar warnings from other leaders, he said that “otherwise, there is a risk that this ceasefire will end up like the Minsk agreements.”

“We will work on this together with all Europeans, Americans, and Ukrainians. This is the key.

We are convinced that Europeans must invest better, more, and together in their security and defense—both for today and for the future.

To this end, Europeans want to accelerate the implementation of their own agenda for sovereignty, security, and competitiveness. Work will continue based on the European Commission’s proposals, both in supporting Ukraine and in developing and investing in our defense. This agenda, defined in 2022 at the Versailles Summit, must simply be carried out.

Decisions, actions, coherence. Quickly.

I will continue these discussions in the coming days.

3h ago08.29 GMT

Even 'hesitant,' EU will still be strong enough to help us prevail, Ukraine's deputy prime minister says

Ukrainian deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna is in Warsaw this morning attending a General Affairs Council of the European Union, and she briefly spoke with reporters before the meeting.

Stefanishyna was also asked about potential security guarantees for Ukraine and deployment of European troops as part of a peacekeeping force, and her thoughts on the Paris summit last night.

She noted that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy had “a long phone call” with the host, French president Emmanuel Macron, and said the question of guarantees and deployment remained under “active discussion”.

“We are closely following the developments on the US side, but I am sure that the European Union, while … hesitant on many issues, will be strong enough to help Ukraine prevail,” she said.

She also stressed that Ukraine was “not in a process of negotiating a deal,” while acknowledging the “processes” put in place by the new US administration.

She also said that Ukraine “has not rejected” the proposed US deal on critical minerals, which remain under discussion. “We expect that it will be signed,” she said.

Stefanishyna was part of the Ukrainian delegation at the Munich Security Conference, taking part in a bilateral meeting with US vice-president JD Vance alongside president Zelenskyy.

4h ago08.01 GMT

US Ukraine envoy Kellogg in Brussels

And almost in parallel, US Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg arrives at the Berlaymont in Brussels for his talks with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Later today, he will also meet with European Council president António Costa before travelling to Poland to meet with Polish president Andrzej Duda.

4h ago07.51 GMT

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