Putin sends top diplomat and adviser to Saudi Arabia for talks with US officials

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and adviser Yuri Ushakov to Saudi Arabia for talks with U.S. officials. This meeting aims to restore relations and discuss potential negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with the Russian delegation. The discussions will focus on improving Russian-American relations and preparing for possible negotiations regarding Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the meeting's agenda but did not comment on reports of additional Russian officials attending or on a potential face-to-face meeting between Putin and Trump later this month.