U.S. and Russian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia for Ukraine war talks without Ukraine

Senior U.S. and Russian officials will meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving relations and negotiating an end to the Ukraine war. This is the first significant meeting since Russia's invasion nearly three years ago. The talks will not include Ukrainian officials, raising concerns in Kyiv and among its allies about the potential outcomes. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other officials aim to assess Russia's commitment to peace. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was not invited and would not accept any agreements made without its participation. He emphasized the need for security guarantees before considering any settlement.