Berlin, 18 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The United States and Russia agreed to appoint high-level teams to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine at a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday.

The teams will work on a path to end the war "in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides," according to a statement released by the US State Department after their meeting.

"President [Donald] Trump wants to stop the killing; the United States wants peace and is using its strength in the world to bring countries together," the statement said, adding that "President Trump is the only leader in the world who can get Ukraine and Russia to agree to that."

Rubio and Lavrov met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, accompanied by the Kremlin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

In its statement, the US also announced that the powers had agreed on steps to mend their bilateral relationship, including moves towards restoring their diplomatic missions.

They also agreed to "lay the groundwork for future cooperation on matters of mutual geopolitical interest and historic economic and investment opportunities," the statement said.

Photo: EPA