But, from Mr Putin’s point of view, he had good reason to be part of it. As the boss of one of Russia’s state-backed investment funds, Mr Dmitriev has been cutting deals for more than a decade. Mr Putin wants America to loosen sanctions on his economy.

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh, but Ukraine has not been invited.

Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, has gained significant access to Vladimir Putin's inner circle through his personal relationships.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has spoken to Syria’s new leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, the first such top-level contact since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad

Former U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice discusses Trump's foreign policy as it relates to Ukraine and America's adversaries.

America switched sides. Ukraine is out, Russia is in. President Trump has blamed Ukraine for starting the war that was started by Russia, and America’s traditional European allies are in a state of shock.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Wednesday that a Ukrainian drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pumping station in southern Russia might have been coordinated with its Western allies.

Asian shares mostly rose Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump agreed with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to start talks about ending the war in Ukraine. The possibility that Trump may pause some of the tariffs he has announced was also a cause for optimism in Asian markets.

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins questioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on any pre-conditions around a possible Trump-Putin meeting and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments about Ukraine’s NATO membership.

In a one-hour question and answer session on social media Thursday, Macron said that he'll tell Trump: “'You can’t be weak in the face of Putin. It’s not you, it’s not your trademark, it’s not in your interest.

The UK leader has been advised to choose his words carefully at this week’s crucial White House meeting