US and Russia to 'normalise' relationship and start Ukraine talks, officials say

euronews (in English)

Russian and US officials spent four hours in Saudi Arabia in talks delegations described as "positive" and a "first step", despite criticism from Ukraine and Europe over their lack of involvement.

Transcript

00:00U.S. and Russian officials have held talks in Saudi Arabia, aimed at improving bilateral

00:07relations and negotiating an end to Moscow's war in Ukraine.

00:12The meeting took place at the Deir Ezzor Palace in Riyadh, with delegations led by U.S. Secretary

00:18of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

00:23Following their discussion, Rubio said the U.S. will appoint a high-level team to conduct

00:28peace negotiations, adding that Europe would be a part of future talks.

00:33It begins by the end of this conflict.

00:36The first next step is working through our respective teams at the diplomatic side, just

00:42to ensure that our diplomatic missions can function.

00:44There's been a series of reciprocal actions taken over the last 10 years that have really

00:49diminished our ability to operate in Moscow, as an example, and they would argue their

00:52ability to operate in Washington.

00:54It's the first in-person discussion between senior officials from both countries, and

00:59is expected to pave the way for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian

01:04President Vladimir Putin, although no date has yet been set.

01:10Ukrainian officials were not present at the talks, and President Volodymyr Zelensky has

01:15said his country will not accept any outcome if Kiev is not included.

01:21U.S. Ukrainian defense official Yuri Sack remains optimistic Ukraine will eventually

01:26be invited to the negotiating table.

01:29Nothing can happen without our consent, so rest assured, and I think this is the position

01:35that has been reaffirmed by the United States directly, that Ukraine will be a party of

01:41these negotiations.

01:43The talks in Riyadh come amid Trump's decision to reverse U.S. policy on isolating Russia,

01:49following his phone call with Putin last Wednesday, in which he declared that both

01:53had agreed to start negotiations immediately.

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