As late as February, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could meet, although a one-on-one meeting takes time to prepare, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, said, according to Russian news agencies.

Peskov said the U.S.-Russia talks held Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were an “important step” toward reaching a settlement on the war.

However, he noted that relations between the two countries should first be revitalized before they can be restored.

The meeting in Riyadh is seen as marking a pivotal step by the Trump administration, which has moved to reverse the US policy of isolating Russia. It followed the US president’s remarks after his meeting with his Russian counterpart, during which he said they agreed to start negotiations to end the war.

Trump envoy Keith Kellogg in Kiev.

On Wednesday morning (19.2.2025), the US president’s envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg arrived in Kiev for his first visit. The visit comes the day after Russian-American talks in Saudi Arabia were denounced by Ukraine, Ukrainian public television reported.

Kellogg arrived by train from Poland in the morning and was greeted at the train station by US Ambassador Bridget Brink, the Suspilné television station reported, which released images of his arrival.

European agreement on 16th package of sanctions against Russia

Meanwhile, and with three years of the Russian invasion of Ukraine coming up in a few days, the Permanent Representatives of EU countries in Brussels have reached an agreement on the 16th package of sanctions against Russia.

The new sanctions package, to be adopted by the EU Foreign Affairs Council on February 24, includes, among other things, a ban on aluminum imports from Russia, a ban on exports to Russia of chemicals such as chromium and other chemicals, and a ban on services to oil and gas refineries.

In addition, the 16th package includes 73 new listings of vessels in Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”, while 53 new entities are added to the list of sanctions against natural or legal persons. It also bans transactions with Russian ports and airports that help circumvent the sanctions imposed on Russian oil and its price cap.