What were the key outcomes of the US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia regarding Ukraine?

The five-hour high-level talks in Saudi Arabia resulted in two significant outcomes. First, officials agreed to restore embassy staffing in Washington and Moscow, a step toward normalizing diplomatic relations. Second, they committed to creating a high-level negotiation team that will include European allies to work toward peace in Ukraine. Notably, these discussions occurred without Ukrainian representatives at the table, marking the first substantial US-Russia diplomatic engagement since Presidents Biden and Putin met in Geneva before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism about the talks, which aim to find a sustainable resolution to the ongoing conflict.