Top Russia, US Officials Meet in Saudi Arabia Tuesday

Top Russian and U.S. officials will meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss restoring diplomatic ties, negotiating a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine conflict, and preparing for a summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. The Russian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head the American side. This meeting follows recent phone calls between Trump and both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where they expressed a desire to initiate negotiations. Zelenskyy has insisted that any discussions regarding Ukraine must include his country, and a Ukrainian delegation is present in Saudi Arabia for potential involvement. The Kremlin emphasized that the talks will also address broader security issues beyond Ukraine, reflecting ongoing tensions with NATO. As the conflict nears its third anniversary, the outcome of these discussions could significantly impact U.S.-Russia relations and the war's trajectory.