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From Weapons to Words: US, Russia Must Unite to End Ukraine Conflict, Beninese Economic Analyst Says

© Sputnik . Russian Foreign Ministry / Go to the mediabankUS Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attend negotiations between high-level delegations from the United States and Russia on Ukraine, on February 18, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attend negotiations between high-level delegations from the United States and Russia on Ukraine, on February 18, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 22.02.2025
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On Tuesday, Russian and US delegations led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State Marco Rubio held landmark talks in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh to discuss the future of bilateral relations and the Ukrainian crisis, among other issues.
The United States and Russia must unite to end the Ukrainian conflict, an economic and diplomatic analyst from Benin Bertin Koovi told Sputnik Africa, commenting on the recent meeting of the US and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia.

"No war ends with weapons. War begins with the clatter of weapons, but it always ends with a signature, a pen. It is high time for Americans and Russians to unite to end this absurd war in Ukraine," he stated.

At the same time, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky "has no place at the negotiating table," the analyst noted.
As for Europe's role in the peace talks, it will now have to "return all the assets confiscated from the Russians, because without the American umbrella, Europe is nothing," the speaker noted, recalling the threats of then-French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire to "bring Russia to its knees" in 2022.
"Whether we like it or not, Russia is one of the world's leading powers," Koovi emphasized.
The African continent, for its part, needs to finally put an end to terrorism, according to the expert.
"With Donald Trump, it will stop, and we will move to peace and economic growth, economic development for the whole world, but especially for Africa," he pointed out.
US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 19.02.2025
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