In a significant diplomatic shift, US and Russian officials convened in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov outlined plans for future cooperation and appointed teams for negotiations, although the absence of Ukrainian officials raised concerns. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine criticized the talks, stating that any agreements made without Kyiv's participation would be unacceptable. Meanwhile, Russia's military operations continue with ongoing drone attacks on Ukraine, indicating a complex road ahead for peace efforts.