The US and its allies may have to reconsider sanctions against Russia to reach a "sustainable and long-term" peaceful solution to the Ukrainian conflict - RT quoted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying at a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after talks with the Russian delegation on February 18.
He stressed that Washington has interests in developing economic cooperation with Moscow after the war ends.
Foreign Minister Rubio held a press conference with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff. On the Russian side, there were the participation of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Assistant to Russian President Yury Ushakov and Director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev.
The two sides discussed the Ukrainian conflict and bilateral issues, including the restoration of diplomatic relations. Both delegations described the meeting as "positive and constructive".
Foreign Minister Rubio said that easing sanctions could be part of the peace process. To end any conflict, all parties must make a concession, Rubio said without going into details.
He stressed that the US cannot unilaterally decide on the sanctions, as European allies also need to participate in the negotiations. The European Union (EU) will have to be present in the negotiations because it has also imposed sanctions, said Foreign Minister Rubio.
The Trump administration is moving towards a "fair, sustainable, and widely accepted" solution to the conflict. This could open up "unique and historic economic cooperation opportunities" between the US and Russia, Mr Rubio said.
Over the past three years, the US and the EU have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia. According to RDIF data, the policy has caused US companies an estimated $300 billion in losses due to having to leave the Russian market.
While Washington leaves open the possibility of reducing sanctions, the EU has a tougher stance. European Commission (EC) Vice President for Economy and European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis affirmed that Brussels would not change policy even if Washington did so.
Mr. Dombrovskis emphasized that the EU is still preparing a 16th package of sanctions, expected to be announced on February 24 - exactly three years since the conflict broke out. The new measures will continue to target Russia's energy sector to " force President Putin to sit at the negotiating table" - according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
However, not all EU members agree. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has recently called for the lifting of sanctions against Russia, saying Brussels' policy cannot end the war in Ukraine but only causes damage to member states. He predicted that Russia would "reintegrate" to the international system in the near future.
