Russia And The United States Plan To Continue High-Level Dialogue This Week

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. (Twitter/@mfa_russia)

JAKARTA - Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Russia and the United States would continue talks at the political director's level to discuss matters that disrupt bilateral relations this weekend.

"We are open to communicating with Americans, particularly regarding matters that disrupt bilateral relations. We expect real progress after the meeting, which is scheduled for the end of the first week," he told TASS, as quoted February 24.

The Moscow senior diplomat added the meeting would be held "at the level of department director" of foreign services.

Previously, the two countries' high-level delegation held talks for 4.5 hours in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 18.

Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Adjutant to President Yury Ushakov, and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev. From the US side there is US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy to the Middle East Steven Witkoff representing the US.

According to Ushakov, the delegates had held serious talks on all the things they had planned to discuss, including strengthening the position of the two countries and communications on Ukraine.

He explained that it is not yet known who will be the negotiator in resolving the Ukraine issue and the decision will be submitted to the president.

Foreign Minister Lavrov said the talks were very useful and both sides agreed to appoint ambassadors as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the State Department said Foreign Minister Lavrov and Foreign Minister Rubio agreed at the meeting to form negotiating groups on Ukraine, as well as on future cooperation on issues of common geopolitical interest.