US and Russian officials hold talks in Saudi Arabia on Ukraine war

U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the Ukraine war, marking a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. This is the first major contact between the two nations since the conflict began. Key points of discussion included restoring embassy staffing, exploring economic cooperation, and forming a high-level team for negotiations. Ukraine was not included in the talks, leading to discontent from President Zelenskyy. The absence of Ukraine raised concerns among foreign policy experts and European allies about potential outcomes favoring Russia. The U.S. approach now focuses on engagement rather than isolation of Russia.