U.S., Russia’s top diplomats meet in Saudi Arabia

According to Ukrinform, CNN reported on the meeting.

Among other American officials present at the talks in Riyadh were U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

On the Russian side, Putin’s aide Yuriy Ushakov and CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev attended the meeting. Both played a key behind-the-scenes role in a recent deal that led to the release of prisoners in the United States.

Lavrov stated that the negotiations would be focused on ending the “abnormal period” in relations between the two “great powers.”

The discussion could also lay the groundwork for a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the report noted.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that high-ranking officials from Russia and the United States met in Saudi Arabia to initiate negotiations. The agency released a short video clip of the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and National Security Advisor Musaed Al Aiban joined Rubio, Lavrov, and other attendees. However, they were expected to leave early in the negotiations.

According to the Current Time, the talks between the U.S. and Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia began around 9:30 Kyiv time.

As Ukrinform previously reported, on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on the upcoming U.S.-Russia negotiations in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that Ukraine would not participate in them.