The diplomatic delegation led by US Secretary of State Marko Rubio held a press conference after a one-hour meeting with the Russian delegation led by Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh.

Marco Rubio made it clear that today’s discussion is the first step in a “process involving difficult diplomatic decisions” and set the basis for the talks on four pillars: 1. The settlement of conditions for negotiation 2. The goal is a permanent and sustainable peace 3. Guarantees and concessions to both sides have not yet been put on the table but will be put on the table and 4. The current tripartite is and will continue to lead the peace process.

Regarding the reactions from the Ukrainian and European Union side that there should be no decisions on Ukraine without Kiev, the US diplomatic chief stressed that “no one is being left behind everyone is getting immediate updates on the negotiations and at some point everyone will be at the table.”

Marco Rubio stressed that for there to be progress in the war in Ukraine only the US and Donald Trump had the potential to initiate the processes and promote a viable and stable solution. The US Secretary of State noted that there can be no lasting solution without all sides deciding and accepting the final agreement “the US does not want to impose something that is not acceptable to everyone.”