Kirill Dmitriev wrote on Elon Musk’s X platform for the first time since 2012 this week to declare US-Russia cooperation was “key to address world challenges.” Then he posted a video graphic depicting a joint mission to Mars with the US and Saudi Arabia on what appears to be one of Musk’s SpaceX rockets.

President Donald Trump continued to press Kyiv to sign a minerals deal Thursday and expressed confidence that Moscow was also ready to close on a deal to end the war that started when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Meanwhile, European Union leaders backed new defense spending plans after the Trump administration signaled Europe would have to fend for itself.

Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff said he and other U.S. officials will sit down with Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia.

The naval drills, which include "striking maritime targets," will "strengthen military mutual trust" between Beijing, Moscow and Tehran, China said.

Ukraine is "fully committed" to further dialogue with U.S. representatives this week on ways to end the war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said as he named a high-level delegation to attend the meeting in Saudi Arabia.

The Ukrainian President announced his visit to Saudi Arabia next week, stating that after his meeting with the Crown Prince on Monday.