Less than a week before the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States and Russia announced this Tuesday an agreement to stop the war “as soon as possible.”
An Agreement to Seek a Lasting Solution
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, agreed to create “high-level teams” that will work to find a “lasting, sustainable, and acceptable solution for all parties.”
The meeting between the two took place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and what stood out the most was that no representatives from Ukraine or other European countries were invited.
In an official statement, the U.S. Department of State explained that the agreement aims to stop the fighting and lay the foundation for future collaborations on topics of mutual interest. Additionally, they highlighted the economic opportunities that could arise if the conflict in Ukraine is resolved.
“We Have Taken an Important Step Forward”
In the statement, the U.S. government also clarified that a phone call or a meeting alone is not enough to achieve peace.
“We must take action, and today we have taken an important step forward,” the text stated.
Ukraine Is Not Left Out of the Agreement
After the meeting, Marco Rubio explained that the absence of Ukrainian representatives does not mean that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government is being excluded.
“No one has been left out here,” he stated at a press conference. He also made it clear that this agreement is only “the first step in a long and difficult road” to ending the war.
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