The US and Russia are due to hold talks in Saudi Arabia about the war in Ukraine – the first face-to-face discussions between the two countries since Russia’s invasion, the BBC reports.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh this morning, but neither Ukraine, nor any European countries are invited.
The US says the talks are a first step to see if Russia is “serious” about ending the war, while Russia says the goal is to normalise its relations with America.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says it will not recognise any agreements reached from talks it is not involved in.
European leaders also want to be involved – yesterday they held an emergency summit, with Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk saying no decisions should be taken without them.
UK PM Sir Keir Starmer says he would consider sending UK troops to Ukraine in the event of a lasting peace agreement, but other countries were reluctant.
