US and Russia begin talks to address issues and seek peace in Ukraine

The United States and Russia have agreed to address issues in their relationship and work towards ending the war in Ukraine. This development follows a recent phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for 4.5 hours in Saudi Arabia. They discussed creating a mechanism to improve diplomatic relations and appointed teams to focus on resolving the Ukraine conflict. The State Department emphasized that this meeting is an early step in a longer process. They noted that more efforts will be needed to achieve lasting peace.