US, Russia hold talks to end Ukraine war and improve ties-Kyiv sidelined

Ukrainian President rejects any outcome from the talks if Ukraine was not involved

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The top diplomats from Russia and the US met Tuesday 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.

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.

Zelenskyy postponed a trip to Saudi Arabia scheduled for this week. The Ukrainian leader suggested Tuesday that he wanted to avoid his visit being linked to the talks. He said his visit was rescheduled for March 10.

Beyond Ukraine, the meeting-attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other senior officials had been expected - to focus on thawing relations between the two countries, whose ties have fallen to their lowest level in decades.

In an interview with The Associated Press after the meeting, Rubio said the two sides agreed broadly to pursue three goals: to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, to create a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and to explore closer relations and economic cooperation.

Both embassies have been hit hard by expulsions of large numbers of diplomats over the course of several years as relations soured and the US, along with European nations, imposed a raft of sanctions on Russia. The allies have repeatedly expanded the measures to damage its economy.