US and Russia agree to restore embassy staffing and negotiate Ukraine peace

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving relations and negotiating peace in Ukraine. Both countries agreed to restore embassy staffing to support these efforts. Ukrainian officials were not present at the talks, raising concerns among allies about being sidelined. President Zelenskyy stated Ukraine would not accept any outcomes from the discussions without its participation. The meeting marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. It was the most extensive contact between the two nations since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Meanwhile, Russia continued drone attacks on Ukraine, causing civilian injuries and damage.