Trump blames Ukraine for war after US-Russia talks
The US and Russia have agreed to work together on ending the Ukraine war — but President Trump has flipped America's approach


What happened
U.S. and Russian officials met for four hours in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, agreeing to normalize relations and open high-level negotiations on ending Moscow's war in Ukraine. When Ukraine objected to being left out of peace negotiations, President Donald Trump responded by blaming Kyiv for Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion and the ongoing bloodshed.
Who said what
The "striking display of bonhomie" in Riyadh was a "head-spinning reset" of the U.S.-Russia relationship under Trump, The New York Times said. Ukraine and America's NATO partners were "sidelined by a relatively inexperienced team of Trump aides," Reuters said, and Russia was "granted concessions even before the talks got under way." Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his team and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's negotiators discussed the parameters of a peace deal and "the incredible opportunities that exist to partner with the Russians" once the Ukraine war ended.
Ukraine was "not invited to this Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia," which was "a surprise for us," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. "Decisions on how to end the war in Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine, nor can any conditions be imposed."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump, fielding questions at his Mar-a-Lago residence, sided with Russia. Ukraine has had a seat at the table "for three years, and a long time before that," he said, appearing to address Zelenskyy. "You should have never started it. You could have made a deal." Russia, which invaded Ukraine without provocation, "wants to do something," Trump said. "They want to stop the savage barbarianism."
Those were "some of the most shameful comments uttered by a president in my lifetime," said Ian Bond of London's Center for European Reform in a post on social media. "Trump is siding with the aggressor, blaming the victim. In the Kremlin they must be jumping for joy."
What next?
Rubio said the U.S. and Russia would first remove restrictions on each other's embassies after a decade of reprisals, then discuss "parameters of what an end" to the Ukraine war would look like. "No one is being sidelined here," he said. "Obviously, there's going to be engagement and consultation with Ukraine, with our partners in Europe and others. But ultimately, the Russian side will be indispensable to this effort."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The AI bubble and a potential stock market crash
Today's Big Question Valuations of some AI start-ups are 'insane', says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
-
Quiz of The Week: 23 – 29 August
Quiz Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Could robotic dogs help clear landmines?
Podcast Plus, what can we learn from a new approach to urban renewal? And how much power rests with political spouses?
-
Why is Trump suddenly interested in his enemies' mortgages?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the president continues targeting adversaries, he's turned to a surprising ally to provide ammunition for an emerging line of attack
-
'A symbol of the faceless corporate desire'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Truck drivers are questioning the Trump administration's English mandate
Talking Points Some have praised the rules, others are concerned they could lead to profiling
-
DC prosecutors lose bid to indict sandwich thrower
Speed Read Prosecutors sought to charge Sean Dunn with assaulting a federal officer
-
White House fires new CDC head amid agency exodus
Speed Read CDC Director Susan Monarez was ousted after butting heads with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccines
-
Trump soaks up adoration in his made-for-TV Cabinet meetings
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The president's televised sessions have become a platform for his top lieutenants to demonstrate executive flattery
-
DOGE put Social Security data at risk, official says
Speed Read DOGE workers made the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans vulnerable to identity theft
-
Court rejects Trump suit against Maryland US judges
Speed Read Judge Thomas Cullen, a Trump appointee, said the executive branch had no authority to sue the judges