Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he had postponed his visit to Saudi Arabia planned for Wednesday and that talks on how to end the war with Russia could not be held behind Ukraine's back.

While U.S. officials characterized the talks as the first step in a peace deal, the Russians are portraying them as a way to end Moscow’s isolation.

Top Russian and U.S. officials are holding talks in Saudi Arabia in a bid to improve their ties and negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. U.S.