"Trump effectively addresses issues," said Russian sources on the initial outcomes of the Riyadh meeting, according to CNN.

Russians are encouraging Americans to engage in dialogue, "build bridges," and establish mutually beneficial cooperation, as reported by CNN journalists. A representative from Moscow assured the agency that lifting sanctions is not the primary focus of the discussions.

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The first contacts between the delegations of the Russian Federation and the United States of America took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While there are no results from the negotiations yet, the Russians are pleased with the progress of the discussions. The agency CNN reported on the topics that members of both delegations managed to discuss.

The agency stated that correspondent Matthew Chance spoke with a member of the Russian delegation — the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev mentioned that the main round of negotiations has not yet started, but he has had discussions with representatives of the American delegation. According to him, no decisions have been made so far, and the main message is about the continuation of contacts. Additionally, the official noted that he appreciates how U.S. President Donald Trump conducts negotiations.

"They solve problems very well. And I believe that President Trump handles issues excellently. The promise is this: let’s engage in dialogue, let’s find the best solution for our countries, for other nations, for the global community," — CNN quoted Dmitriev.

The Russian official disagreed that the primary goal of the RF at the talks is to ease sanctions. He stated that the Russians simply aim to collaborate with the U.S. so that both countries "build bridges" and benefit from cooperation.

Kirill Dmitriev is a 50-year-old financier and investor who has led the Russian Direct Investment Fund since 2011 and has been under sanctions since 2022. CNN reported that he was the one who contacted the U.S. Special Representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, when he was flying to Moscow to retrieve an American citizen from a Russian prison.

On the Russian Foreign Ministry’s page on social media platform X, there is a message stating that 11 hours ago, the head of the ministry, Sergey Lavrov, arrived in Saudi Arabia. No further details about the negotiations or meetings have been provided.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not yet commented on contacts with the Russian delegation on X. His latest messages concern negotiations with the Saudis regarding events in Gaza.

Peace Negotiations — What’s Happening in Saudi Arabia

It should be noted that on February 18, a meeting will take place in Riyadh between the Russians and the U.S. delegation — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Representative Steve Witkoff. The main topic of discussion will be the Russian-Ukrainian war. Ukraine has not been invited to the meeting, although the security advisor of Saudi Arabia is also expected to participate in the negotiations.

We remind you that on February 17, Trump's Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, explained whether Ukraine's interests would be considered during the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the official clarified how the issue of occupied territories will be addressed in a potential peace agreement.