Russia and US agree to lay the groundwork' for future negotiations as first face-to-face talks on Ukraine conclude

In a notable diplomatic move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held face-to-face talks in Riyadh, marking the first high-level negotiations since the Ukraine war began nearly three years ago. The discussions focused on Ukraine and future cooperation, despite the absence of Kyiv and the EU. While optimism was cautious, both sides recognized the need to account for each other's interests. A new consultation mechanism is set to be established to address bilateral issues, alongside efforts to normalize diplomatic ties disrupted by past expulsions.

The U.S. and Russian delegations met for the first time since the Ukraine invasion to discuss cooperation and future negotiations, despite key parties being absent.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the need to respect each other's interests during the lengthy meeting in Riyadh.

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