US and Russia agree on key cooperation areas in Ukraine talks

U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Ukraine war, agreeing on three key areas for cooperation. They plan to restore embassy staffing, form a team for Ukraine peace talks, and explore economic ties. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the talks as a positive start. They emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue, with no immediate plans for a summit between U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin. U.S.-Russia relations have been strained since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The recent talks represent the most significant engagement between the two nations in nearly three years.