# Putin calls U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh a first step toward restoring ties

*Event date: 2025-02-19*

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the U.S.-Russia talks held in Saudi Arabia were a “first step” toward restoring relations between the two countries, casting the meeting as a possible opening in a long and damaged relationship.

The remarks came after senior officials from Washington and Moscow met in Riyadh for their first direct talks since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The supplied evidence shows both the symbolism and the limits of the encounter: it was the first face-to-face diplomatic contact of its kind in years, but it did not resolve the core conflict that has defined relations since the invasion.

Putin’s choice of language matters because it places the meeting at the beginning of a process rather than the end of one. By calling it a first step, he signaled that Moscow wanted to present the talks as part of a broader diplomatic reset, not just a one-off exchange.

The talks also drew attention because they happened in Saudi Arabia rather than in either capital. That setting underlines the role of third countries in brokering contact when direct channels are politically difficult. It also suggests that both sides saw enough value in limited engagement to put senior officials in the same room.

At the same time, the fact that the meetings took place against the backdrop of war in Ukraine means expectations should remain restrained. No evidence in the supplied report indicates that the session produced a breakthrough on territorial issues, sanctions or the future of the conflict. The most important verified fact is simply that direct talks resumed and that Putin publicly welcomed them.

The diplomatic significance lies in the contrast between the public tone and the political reality. Moscow and Washington remain far apart on Ukraine, but talks of this kind can still matter because they create channels for further contact, signal potential shifts in strategy and test whether each side is willing to move beyond public confrontation.

The Moscow Times report does not suggest that any durable agreement has been reached. It does, however, show that the Kremlin wanted to frame the Saudi meeting as constructive. In a relationship defined by mistrust, even that kind of messaging can be meaningful.

For now, the result is best understood as a tentative diplomatic opening. The war continues, the underlying disputes remain unresolved, and the meeting in Riyadh serves mainly as evidence that both governments are willing to test whether limited dialogue is possible again.

Claim-to-source map

  • Putin called the Saudi-hosted U.S.-Russia talks a “first step” toward restoring relations: The Moscow Times (3577)
  • The meeting was the first direct U.S.-Russia talks since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine: The Moscow Times (3577)
  • The talks took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The Moscow Times (3577)