Russia warns Europe against sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as US and Russian officials discuss relations

Russia has warned Europe that sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine would escalate tensions. This statement follows a meeting in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials, who discussed improving relations and addressing issues in their bilateral ties. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended the talks, which lasted four and a half hours. The discussions did not include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has expressed concerns about being excluded from negotiations regarding Ukraine's future. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated readiness to send troops to Ukraine, seeking U.S. support for security commitments. However, European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have criticized the idea of peacekeeping troops as premature and inappropriate without Ukraine's involvement.