US-Russia officials agree to create high-level team to negotiate Ukraine peace

In a significant development, US-Russia officials agreed on Tuesday to create a high-level team to negotiate Ukraine peace and promote economic cooperation, said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Earlier, top diplomats from Russia and the US met in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine — talks that reflected a major and rapid change in American foreign policy under President Donald



Trump.

No Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting, which came as the beleaguered country is slowly but steadily losing ground against more numerous Russian troops in a grinding war that began nearly three years ago.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country won't accept any outcome from this week's talks if Kyiv doesn't take part. European allies have also expressed concerns they are being sidelined.