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Military operation in Ukraine

White House describes talks in Riyadh as ‘monumental step’ toward peace in Ukraine

White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt lambasted the previous administration, which "had no negotiations, no discussions, really, no diplomacy"

WASHINGTON, February 18. /TASS/. White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt has hailed the US-Russian talks in Riyadh as the first but "monumental step" toward peace in Ukraine.

"This is a truly monumental step towards peace in the Russia-Ukraine war," she told Fox News, adding that the US administration maintains communication with the Ukrainian leadership, as well as with its European allies to ensure "all parties are heard."

"You have to speak to both sides of the war in order to truly negotiate a deal," she emphasized. "This is a significant first step towards peace."

She lambasted the previous administration, which "had no negotiations, no discussions, really, no diplomacy."

The Russian and US delegations held talks in Riyadh on February 18. The talks lasted for 4.5 hours. Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy for the Middle East Stephen Witkoff represented the US side.

According to Ushakov, the delegations had a serious conversation on all the matters they had planned to discuss, including bringing the two countries’ positions closer together and contacts on Ukraine. The US Department of State said in turn that Lavrov and Rubio agreed to set up negotiating teams and cooperate on matters of mutual geopolitical interest.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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