U.S. and Russia prepare for key talks on Ukraine as European leaders seek security strategies

U.S. officials are set to meet Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. This marks the first high-level U.S.-Russia talks since the invasion began nearly three years ago. Ukraine is not participating in these discussions. European leaders are reacting to mixed messages from the U.S. regarding support for Ukraine. At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. officials criticized European nations and suggested they may not be included in future negotiations. France has called an emergency meeting to address these developments. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected a U.S. proposal for access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals, citing a lack of security guarantees. He emphasized that Ukraine will not accept any agreements made without its involvement. European leaders are now considering their own security strategies amid these tensions.