WASHINGTON, February 19. /TASS/. More inclusive Russia-US talks on resolving the Ukraine issue could pave the way for a new global security architecture, Professor Peter Kuznick, director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University, told TASS.
"That process has gotten off to a good start between the US and Russia; we now have to make it more inclusive so that the prospects for a new global security architecture can be established. I'm more optimistic about a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis than I have been for the past three years despite the loud objections being voiced by Zelensky and his European backers. But moving forward will require dexterity and negotiating skills that I haven't seen on the part of the Trump cohort so we will have to see how smoothly the process unfolds. But at least it's begun," the professor pointed out, commenting on the outcome of the recent Russia-US meeting in Riyadh.
According to Kuznick, "while the world remains a tinderbox, ready to explode in numerous ways, there's very hopeful news coming out of recent initiatives by Presidents [Donald] Trump [of the United States] and [Vladimir] Putin [of Russia] and their allies." "Starting with Thursday's game-changing phone call between Trump and Putin, followed by Trump's comments about the need for dramatic cuts to American, Russian, and Chinese nuclear arsenals, and now today's summit in Riyadh, in at least one absolutely crucial relationship—that between the US and Russia—we have stepped back from the nuclear abyss that had characterized our relations in recent months," the expert emphasized.
He added that while he hated "what Trump and his supporters are doing in the Middle East, in the Pacific, and here at home, I have praise for what they're doing vis-a-vis Russia." "They are looking for ways to restore ties that have been largely sundered these past three years and to begin to work together for a lasting peace. They need to continue working together to find ways to bring a settlement that will satisfy the legitimate security needs for all involved and make all with a stake in the outcome of negotiations, including Ukraine, feel that their views have been adequately represented," Kuznick noted.
Riyadh talks
Russian and US delegations held talks in Riyadh on February 18, which 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. The US delegation consisted of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
According to Ushakov, the delegations held a serious talk on all the issues they wanted to discuss, including ways to bring Russian and US positions closer to each other and future consultations on Ukraine. It is not yet clear who will join the group of negotiators on resolving the Ukraine conflict as it will be up to the Russian president to decide, he specified. Lavrov described the meeting with Washington officials as very useful. According to him, Russia and the US agreed to make sure that ambassadors to both countries are appointed as soon as possible. The US Department of State, in turn, stated that Rubio and Lavrov had agreed to form negotiating teams on Ukraine and cooperate in the future on issues regarding common geopolitical interests.