What is the purpose of the meeting between the US and Russia?

The purpose of the meeting is to reestablish communication channels between the US and Russia after three and a half years without regularized contact. According to Secretary Rubio, this meeting aims to follow up on a phone call the president had a week prior and begin establishing those lines of communication between the participants in the Ukraine conflict. Rubio emphasized this is just "the first step of a long and difficult journey," highlighting the significance of reopening diplomatic channels amid ongoing tensions. The meeting reflects efforts to normalize communication rather than immediately resolving the conflict, though some speculation existed about it potentially leading to a summit between Presidents Putin and Trump.