Ukraine, Europe will be part of ‘real’ peace talks, says Rubio, as US weighs Putin’s motives

America’s top diplomat played down European concerns of being cut out of the initial talks between Russia and the US set to take place in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said Ukraine and Europe would be part of any “real negotiations” to end Moscow’s war, signalling that US talks with Russia this week were a chance to see how serious Russian President Vladimir Putin is about peace.