U.S. and Russia hold talks in Riyadh on Ukraine war without Ukraine's involvement

U.S. and Russian officials met in Riyadh to discuss ending the Ukraine war, following a phone call between President Trump and President Putin. The talks included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The Kremlin described the discussions as a serious dialogue, emphasizing a shift towards peace. However, Ukraine was not included in the talks, and President Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv would not recognize any agreements made without its participation. Despite the diplomatic opening, Lavrov rejected any territorial concessions to Ukraine. The U.S. negotiators aim to assess Russia's commitment to a settlement, while Trump has indicated that peace may depend on Ukraine's NATO ambitions and territorial issues.