What was the purpose of the meeting between U.S. and Russian officials?

U.S. and Russian officials met for nearly five hours to discuss the war in Ukraine, seeking a resolution to the conflict. The talks came shortly after President Trump announced he had called President Putin to initiate negotiations aimed at ending the war immediately. This meeting represents a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Russia, emphasizing diplomatic collaboration over confrontation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz led the American delegation in this urgent effort to arrange direct talks between President Trump and Vladimir Putin.