Russian President Vladimir Putin said he highly appreciated the talks held in Saudi Arabia between the US and Russia. He described them as a "first step" in restoring relations with Washington, AFP reported.

"I was informed about the talks. I highly appreciate them, there is a result," Putin said at a drone factory in St. Petersburg, adding, "In my opinion, we have taken the first step to restore work in various areas of mutual interest."

He stressed that his country needed to build trust with Washington to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

"It is impossible to resolve many issues, including the Ukrainian crisis, without raising the level of trust between Russia and the United States," the Russian president said.

He said a brigade of Russian troops had entered Ukrainian territory overnight, suggesting a ground attack in Ukraine's Sumi region for the first time since Russia withdrew from there in 2022. 

"An hour ago, I was informed that overnight fighters from the 810th Brigade crossed the border of Russian Federation and Ukraine and entered the territory of the enemy," Putin said, referring to the brigade, which state media reported was stationed in Russia's Kursk region near the border with Ukraine's Sumy region. | BGNES