Russia and US diplomats meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ties and Ukraine war

Top US and Russian diplomats met in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving relations and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine. Notably, no Ukrainian officials attended, raising concerns from Ukraine and European allies about being excluded from the talks. The diplomats agreed to restore staffing at their embassies, which have faced significant reductions due to past expulsions. The meeting also aimed to set the stage for a potential summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that the US showed interest in easing sanctions on Russia. However, US officials emphasized that any resolution to the conflict would require participation from all parties, including the EU.