US President Donald Trump has announced a new phase of ceasefire negotiations between American and Russian delegations in the ongoing Ukraine war, with talks set to take place in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on 25 February. This follows an initial meeting in the same city earlier this week.
Following the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said both sides had broadly agreed on three key objectives: restoring embassy staff in Washington and Moscow, creating a high-level team to support Ukraine peace discussions, and exploring closer diplomatic and economic ties. However, he cautioned that the talks, attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other senior Russian officials, marked only the beginning of the process. Lavrov described the meeting as “very useful.”
Notably absent from the negotiations were Ukrainian officials, a move that sparked criticism as Kyiv continues to lose ground to Russian forces nearly three years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected any outcomes from the talks, stressing that Ukraine was not involved. He also postponed a planned visit to Saudi Arabia.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov revealed that preparations are underway for a potential face-to-face meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ryabkov hinted that such a summit could address broader global issues beyond the Ukraine war but noted that discussions were still in the early stages and required extensive preparatory work.
Trump also met French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on Monday to discuss the situation, marking three years since Russia’s invasion. He suggested that Putin might accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential settlement, claiming he had posed the idea to the Russian leader.
Trump defended his stance, stating that he believes ending the war is in Russia’s best interest. “I really believe that he wants to make a deal,” Trump said of Putin.
“I may be wrong, but I believe he wants to make a deal.”
Meanwhile, Trump suggested that the US and Ukraine were nearing an agreement on mineral resources, hinting that Zelenskyy could visit Washington soon to finalise a deal.
The Trump administration has been pushing for access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, though Kyiv has yet to sign off on the proposal. Ukraine is also seeking security guarantees as part of any agreement, but Trump did not specify whether the deal would include American assurances.
“Europe is going to make sure nothing happens.”
As Ukraine marks three years of war, the latest developments raise critical questions about the future of peace negotiations and the extent of Western involvement in shaping any resolution.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marked the anniversary by reaffirming his country’s support for Ukraine. In a statement on X, he condemned Russia’s “illegal and immoral war of aggression” and highlighted Australia’s commitment of over $1.5 billion in aid, including $1.3 billion in military support. The Australian government also announced its largest sanctions package since 2022, targeting individuals and entities supporting Russia’s invasion and military cooperation with North Korea.
Albanese reiterated Australia’s call for Russia to end the war and adhere to international law, emphasizing that his government remains committed to working with Ukraine and its allies for a just and lasting peace.
“Australia calls on Russia to immediately end its war and adhere fully to its obligations under international law, including in relation to the protection of civilians and treatment of prisoners of war.”
With increasing international pressure and diplomatic manoeuvres, the road to peace remains uncertain, as key stakeholders continue to debate the terms of a potential resolution.
Support Our Journalism
The global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today—with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors—is doing just that. Sustaining this requires support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon
