Russia, US Will Appoint Teams and Increase Diplomats to Advance Ukraine Talks: Rubio

A U.S. and Russian delegation met in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Feb. 18 to advance talks on ending the Russia–Ukraine war.

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C), and national security adviser Mike Waltz (2nd R) attend a meeting with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud (R) and a Russian delegation at Riyadh's Diriyah Palace in Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 18, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein/AFP via Getty Images

The United States and Russia have agreed to form high-level teams to handle negotiations to end the Russia–Ukraine war, the U.S. State Department announced on Feb. 18.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, and special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff met with a Russian delegation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine and other areas of tension in U.S.–Russia relations.