Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy said that he had joined a "productive meeting" with US negotiators, the first talks between Moscow and Washington since the start of the Iran war.
The discussions in Florida come after the United States lifted some sanctions on Russian oil earlier this week, imposed because of Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, to ease prices as war engulfed the Middle East.
"Thank you, Steve, Jared, and Josh, for a productive meeting," Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev posted on X, referring to US President Donald Trump's global envoy Steve Witkoff, Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum.
"The teams discussed a variety of topics and agreed to stay in touch," Mr Witkoff posted earlier.
Mr Trump said this week that Mr Putin, to whom he spoke on Monday, wanted to be "helpful" in relation to the Middle East war.
Mr Dmitriev said after the Florida meeting that Washington was "beginning to better understand" the importance of Russian oil.
"We discussed promising projects that could contribute to the restoration of Russian-American relations and the current crisis on global energy markets," he wrote in a Telegram post.
"Today, many countries, primarily the United States, are beginning to better understand the key, systemic role of Russian oil and gas in ensuring the stability of the global economy, as well as the ineffectiveness and destructive nature of sanctions against Russia."
Ukraine says Russian strike kills teenager
A Russian strike in northern Ukraine killed a 15-year-old girl and wounded her parents, authorities said this morning.
"The enemy cynically attacked a peaceful settlement in Menska," the city council posted on Facebook, adding the strike damaged two residential buildings.
"Unfortunately, the enemy attack took the life of a 15-year-old girl, and her parents were wounded," the post added, saying emergency responders were working to put out a fire at the site of the overnight attack.
The latest strike came after a third round of three-party talks were derailed by the war in the Middle East, despite pressure from Washington on both sides to agree to an elusive peace deal.
