**Russia and US Hold High-Level Meeting in Moscow**
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met with U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy in Moscow on February 11. According to Russian state media outlet TASS, the meeting focused on “the activities of foreign institutions.” However, no further details were provided.
This high-level meeting comes as diplomatic contacts between Russia and the US have been kept to an absolute minimum in 2024. Relations between Moscow and Washington have sharply deteriorated since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
**Trump Claims Progress in Talks with Putin**
U.S. President Donald Trump recently claimed that the U.S. had made progress in talks to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, but declined to provide details. Speaking on February 9, Trump confirmed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had been in contact, but did not specify whether their discussions occurred before or after his inauguration.
**Zelensky Open to Exchange Territories**
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he planned to exchange territories if U.S. President Donald Trump succeeds in bringing Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table, according to an interview with The Guardian published on February 11.
**Russia Offers Discounted Oil Prices to China**
Chinese refiners are being offered Russian ESPO crude at discounted prices as rising concerns over US sanctions create logistical and administrative challenges, deterring buyers, Bloomberg reported on February 11.