Marco Rubio’s visit to Riyadh, his first as secretary of state, came amid uncertainty about the future of Gaza and Ukraine and criticism of unilateral U.S. moves over the wars in both places.

Draft ideas will be discussed at a meeting in Riyadh this month. Proposals may involve a Gulf-led reconstruction fund and a deal to sideline Hamas.

Trump did give himself some wiggle room by challenging Arab states to come up with their own plan for postwar Gaza. On Feb. 27, Egypt will host an Arab summit, and talks have been taking place on what to offer in place of Trump’s call for the enclave’s population to be moved out.

A U.S. official says Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia for direct talks with Russian officials in the coming days to seek an end to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, oppose Trump’s plan and continue ... Rubio told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a stop in Jerusalem that “as long as [Hamas] stands ...

Saudi Arabia may be quietly modernising and expanding its long-range missile capabilities, according to newly published satellite imagery. Fabian Hinz, a defence and military researcher at the ...

In Saudi Arabia, Mr. Rubio and two other top Trump aides plan to meet with Russian officials to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Michael Crowley contributed reporting from Washington, and Patrick Kingsley contributed reporting from Jerusalem.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of a regional tour.

The Israeli military said it would remain in what it called “five strategic points” in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials have called for Israel’s full withdrawal.

The prospect of an expedited resolution to the war is being pushed forward by US officials, with Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg suggesting that negotiations could lead to substantial progress in a matter of weeks.