Diplomatic discussions between the United States and Russia concerning the war in Ukraine unfolded in Saudi Arabia this week, notably without Ukrainian officials present. Led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the talks aimed to establish a foundation for a potential peace agreement and a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The proposed framework reportedly includes a ceasefire, followed by Ukrainian elections, and ultimately, the signing of a peace agreement. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce confirmed the U.S. delegation's commitment to collaborate with Russia on various matters, including the Ukrainian conflict, and the formation of specialized teams to pursue a resolution.

Sources suggest that holding new elections in Ukraine is a central component of the proposed peace deal. Both the U.S. and Russia reportedly believe President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces low re-election prospects, anticipating that a different leader might be more amenable to negotiations and compromise. However, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who chairs the House Ukraine caucus, publicly rejected the notion of imposed elections.

President Zelenskyy has firmly stated Ukraine's refusal to accept any peace terms negotiated without its direct involvement, a stance Trump has acknowledged, promising Ukraine's participation in the broader peace process. Zelenskyy curtailed his Middle East trip upon learning of the Saudi meeting, returning to Kyiv instead of proceeding to Saudi Arabia as originally planned.

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff characterized the Riyadh discussions as focusing on establishing trust rather than delving into specific details of a peace agreement. Despite Zelenskyy's skepticism of Putin's intentions, expressed in a recent phone call with Trump, the Ukrainian president believes Putin harbors some apprehension towards Trump.

European representatives were conspicuously absent from the talks, a noteworthy omission following Vice President JD Vance's criticism of European allies at the Munich Security Conference. Meanwhile, U.K. Prime Minister Kier Starmer has expressed willingness to deploy British troops to Ukraine as part of a peace agreement, emphasizing the link between Ukrainian security and the security of Europe and the U.K.