US Secretary of State Marco Rubio presented a three-step plan on Tuesday to resolve the war in Ukraine.
The plan includes high-level meetings with Ukraine and European countries and concessions from all sides, Rubio said during a news conference in Saudi Arabia.
He also stressed that the Russians are ready for a serious process, describing the meeting as the first step on a “long and difficult path”.
He stressed the need for a just, lasting and sustainable solution acceptable to all parties.
The proposal comes after talks between the US and Russia aimed at reducing tensions and finding a path to peace.
The discussions followed a phone call last week between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, seen as a step towards restoring relations and preparing for a possible US-Russia summit.
The talks, hosted by Saudi Arabia to support diplomatic dialogue, are the first meeting between Russian and US diplomats since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The Russian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, along with presidential advisers Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, and the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
The US delegation is led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
