US-Russia "Forming High-Level Negotiation Teams for 'Ukraine Conflict Resolution'... Cooperation on Post-War Reconstruction" [Comprehensive]

On the 18th (local time), U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who held talks in Saudi Arabia, agreed to form their respective high-level negotiation teams to end the Ukraine conflict.

Yonhap News reported that the U.S. and Russia agreed to create a consultation mechanism to improve relations that had deteriorated due to the Ukraine war, and also confirmed their willingness to cooperate in Ukraine's reconstruction after the war ends.

According to the report, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a press release on the meeting results, "We agreed to establish a consultation mechanism to address bilateral relations issues to take necessary measures to normalize the operation of diplomatic missions between the two countries."

She continued, "We agreed to appoint high-level teams as soon as possible to begin work on ending the Ukraine conflict in a long-term, sustainable, and mutually acceptable manner."

She also stated that they "agreed to lay the groundwork for future cooperation regarding mutual geopolitical interests and historic economic and investment opportunities that will arise after the successful conclusion of the Ukraine conflict," adding that "the parties to today's meeting promised to remain engaged to ensure this consultation process proceeds in a timely and productive manner."

Spokesperson Bruce claimed, "President Donald Trump wants the killing to stop. America wants peace and is using its power to unite countries around the world," adding that "President Trump is the only world leader who can get Ukraine and Russia to agree."

Secretary Rubio reportedly said, "At some point, Europe will need to join the negotiations," stating that "the end of the conflict must be acceptable to all parties involved, including Ukraine, Europe, and Russia."

Rubio also noted the degraded operational capacity of U.S. and Russian diplomatic missions and added that they "agreed to restore embassy staff numbers."

At this first ministerial-level meeting between the U.S. and Russia since the Trump administration took office, the U.S. side was represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff, while the Russian side included Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin's diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov.

Lee Bo-bae, Guest Reporter for The Korea Economic Daily, newsinfo@hankyung.com