US and Russia hold talks in Saudi Arabia on Ukraine war and diplomatic relations

Washington: Top diplomats from the United States and Russia met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss improving bilateral relations and finding a resolution to the Ukraine war. The meeting marks a significant shift in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov led the discussions, which aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.

Diplomatic ties have reached their lowest point in decades due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Despite the high-level talks, no Ukrainian officials were present. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his country would not accept any outcomes from the discussions if Kyiv was excluded. European allies also voiced concerns over Ukraine’s absence.

Following the meeting, Rubio announced that both sides agreed to restore staff at their embassies in Washington and Moscow to support peace talks on Ukraine, bilateral relations, and broader cooperation.

Both embassies have faced significant staffing shortages due to the evacuation of diplomats in recent years.