Vladimir Putin

The Trump administration and Russian officials held their first direct talks on ending the Ukraine war in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in US diplomatic strategy that excluded Ukraine from the initial discussions. The 4.5-hour meeting in Riyadh represented the first direct US-Russian diplomatic engagement in resolving Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two. During the talks, Russia maintained its firm stance against Ukraine joining NATO. President Trump expressed optimism following the meeting, indicating he would likely meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before month's end. Trump dismissed concerns about Ukraine's absence, suggesting Kyiv should have initiated negotiations earlier, and claimed he could end the conflict. The talks have sparked controversy, with European leaders expressing concern about negotiations occurring without Ukraine's involvement. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that decisions cannot be made without Ukraine's participation. Some European politicians criticized […]