Lavrov, Rubio, discuss implementation of Riyadh agreements
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US counterpart Marco Rubio discussed implementing agreements made during their February meeting in Riyadh, according to Russia's Foreign Ministry.
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives to attend a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 13, 2025 (AP)
The Russian Foreign Minister discussed with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, the implementation of the terms they agreed to during their meeting in Riyadh, according to the Russian foreign Ministry on Sunday.
“Specific aspects of the implementation of mutual understandings reached at the meeting of senior Russian and US officials on February 18 in Riyadh were also discussed. Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio agreed to stay in contact,” the ministry stated.
This comes amid intensified efforts by the US and the UK to tighten the diplomatic relations between the two countries and work toward an end to the Russo-Ukraine war, which entered its third-year last month.
Russia, US, convene in Riyadh
On February 18, Russia and the US reached an agreement to initiate efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and strengthening diplomatic and economic relations, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Associated Press that the talks signified the start of dialogue, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the discussions as "very useful" and highlighted, "We not only listened but also heard each other," underscoring the significance of the exchange.
Rubio detailed three primary objectives, which included restoring staffing at their embassies in Washington and Moscow, establishing a high-level team to advance Ukraine peace negotiations, and examining the possibility of closer contacts and economic cooperation, emphasizing the importance of these steps in the broader diplomatic effort.
30-day ceasefire awaits Russia's approval
Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia, according to a joint statement released on March 11, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming that Washington will take Ukraine's offer to Russia and stressing that the next move is up to Moscow, declaring, "The ball is now in their court."
US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that Russia might accept a 30-day ceasefire after Ukraine agreed to the proposal during US-led negotiations in Saudi Arabia, adding that US officials would hold talks with their Russian counterparts in the coming days to push for a deal.
"Ukrainians agreed to it, and hopefully, Russia will agree to it. We are going to meet with them later on today and tomorrow," he stated, adding, "I'll talk to Vladimir Putin, yeah... Hopefully, he'll also agree [to the ceasefire], and I really think that would be 75% of the way [to peace]."
Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly signaled openness to discussing the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, stressing that any agreement must tackle underlying issues rather than simply halt fighting temporarily at a press conference following his meeting with the Belarusian President on March 13.
"We agree with the proposal to stop the hostilities," Putin said, emphasizing that the ceasefire should help address the root causes of the conflict rather than merely put the fighting on hold.
