**US and Russia Plan New Ceasefire Talks**
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new phase of ceasefire negotiations with Russian officials. The talks will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 25.
This meeting follows the first round of discussions held earlier in the week. However, no Ukrainian officials were present at these talks.
**Key Goals for Ceasefire Talks**
The US Secretary of State has outlined three main objectives that both sides have agreed to pursue. These include:
* Restoring embassy staff in Washington and Moscow
* Creating a team to facilitate Ukraine peace talks
* Exploring ways to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries
**Preparations for Trump-Putin Meeting**
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, has said that preparations are underway for a potential face-to-face meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Such a summit could cover global issues beyond the war in Ukraine.
Ryabkov emphasized the need to “move toward normalizing relations” and address pressing global situations, including the conflict in Ukraine.
**Rejection of Talks by Ukrainian Leader**
President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected any potential outcome from these talks, stressing that Kyiv was not included in the discussions. European allies have also voiced concerns over being sidelined in the negotiations, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
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