While U.S. officials characterized the talks as the first step in a peace deal, the Russians are portraying them as a way to end Moscow’s isolation.

In a major diplomatic shift, top officials from the U.S. and Russia met today for the first time since the war in Ukraine began. Ukraine was not part of the talks, nor were European countries. NBC News’ Keir Simmons reports from Saudi Arabia,

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration said on Tuesday it agreed to hold more talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine after an initial meeting that excluded Kyiv, a departure from Washington's previous approach that rallied U.