Mr Trump has no clear plan, and his options range from cutting off Ukraine to ramping up military aid and sanctions. The dance between the American president and Mr Putin took another step in Riyadh,

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with his Saudi counterpart in Riyadh, as he leads a delegation to the nation to meet with Russian officials for talks on restoring ties, ending the war in Ukraine and preparing a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a delegation to meet with senior officials from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration in Riyadh on Tuesday in their highest-level talks since Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine in 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a delegation to meet with senior officials from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration in Riyadh on Tuesday in their highest-level talks since Moscow sent its forces into Ukraine in 2022.

The top US diplomat is leading a delegation to the nation to meet with Russian officials, for talks on restoring ties, ending the war in Ukraine and preparing a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

Top U.S. and Russian officials are set to meet on Tuesday in Riyadh for what are expected to be the most significant talks between the two former Cold War foes on ending Moscow's war in Ukraine. The conversation could pave the way for a summit between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday that Putin himself said that he "would be ready to negotiate with Zelensky if necessary," the BBC reported. The news comes as U.S. cabinet officials meet with Russian diplomats in Riyadh,

According to Reuters, Putin says Europe is needed in Ukraine talks, but suggests a deal is still far from done. Mr Putin told Russian state television that Mr Trump was approaching the Russia-Ukraine conflict rationally and not emotionally,

His main role, his main task, is what Putin assigned him: to get the Americans to lift sanctions pressure. That’s his job,” Russia’s former deputy foreign minister, told NBC News.

The meeting, which comes just days after a phone call between Trump and Putin, will focus on restoring ties between the two countries and ending the war in Ukraine.

As a senator, Marco Rubio prided himself on challenging tyrants. But as secretary of state, President Trump has tasked him with helping to potentially turn Russia from an enemy into an ally.