Lavrov and Ushakov to meet with U.S. delegation in Riyadh on Feb. 18

On the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, his aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will fly to Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on February 17 to meet with an American delegation. This was announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a briefing on February 17.

He noted that the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, and will be devoted to the restoration of the complex of bilateral relations between Russia and the United States and the preparation of possible negotiations on the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. Representatives of the Russian side are also ready to discuss the situation in the Middle East, Peskov pointed out.

According to the presidential spokesman, a full report on the progress of the talks will be presented already in Moscow, but if "some urgent reports" are required, there are all communication possibilities for that.

"Saudi Arabia was mentioned by [US President Donald] Trump when they talked about a possible location for a possible summit. Here within the framework of such an understanding that this place generally suits both the American side and the Russian side, such a joint decision was made," Peskov emphasized, responding to a question about the choice of Riyadh as a venue for talks.

Counter-position: why Riyadh may accept Putin-Trump talks

And how Saudi Arabia feels about the conflict in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia

On the eve it was reported that the US delegation on February 16 went to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russia.

Before that, on February 13, Trump announced a meeting of representatives of Russia, the United States and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia. At the time, the media reported that representatives of Moscow and Washington might meet in the Arab kingdom in late February to prepare a summit between the two presidents.