On the eve of U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, Moscow has released Kalob Wayne Byers, who had been held since February 7 on drug charges, U.S. and Russian media reports say, following a series of prisoner swaps and releases by Moscow in recent weeks.
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The move disclosed late on February 17 appears to be another step aimed at reducing U.S.-Russia tensions ahead of the Saudi talks as Washington steps up diplomatic moves to end the fighting in the Ukraine war.
The New York Times quoted a Kremlin official as saying the upcoming talks are designed to improve bilateral relations, "so certain events can be viewed in this context."
The Associated Press cited representatives for Byers as saying the man was at the U.S. Embassy awaiting a flight home. The report said the move was a straight release and not a prisoner exchange. His name was also listed by some sources as Kalob Byers Wayne.
A Russian court ordered Byers, 28, to be held in custody after he was arrested at a Moscow airport on drug-smuggling charges when customs officials alleged that they found cannabis-laced marmalade in his baggage.
A court post on Telegram said he faced a charge that carries a prison sentence of up to seven years.
The arrest came days after a U.S.-Russia prisoner swap, which the White House described as a sign of a diplomatic thaw and a step toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Washington and other Western governments have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin's government of arresting citizens of Western countries on fabricated or exaggerated charges and holding them as "hostages" it can trade with the United States and other countries.
SEE ALSO: Freed RFE/RL Journalist Kuznechyk Feels 'Weight Lifted' At Seeing His FamilyThe U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia on February 18 remain controversial with America's allies who fear Washington could strike a deal with Moscow that could undermine Ukrainian and wider European security concerns.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters in Abu Dhabi, where he was visiting as part of a Middle East tour, that his country would not participate in the talks.
Zelenskyy said earlier that Kyiv was not invited to the session and that, in any case, it considers negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine to serve no purpose.
"We cannot recognize any agreements about us without us," Zelenskyy told reporters in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine Won't 'Recognize' U.S.-Russia Talks In Saudi Arabia, Zelenskyy Says"And we will not recognize such agreements," added Zelenskyy, who traveled on to Turkey after his U.A.E. stop.
The U.S. presidential envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, told reporters that no one will force a peace deal on Zelenskyy, and that he and the people of Ukraine would make that call.
"Nobody will impose [a peace agreement] on an elected leader of a sovereign nation," Kellogg said.
Kellogg earlier caused a stir when he said Europe may not be "at the table" if the United States brokers negotiations to end Russia's war against Ukraine. He later clarified to say that, even if Europe were not "at the table," its views would be taken into account.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- who will lead the U.S. team in Saudi Arabia -- echoed those remarks, saying Ukraine and other European nations would be included in any meaningful negotiation sessions, if and when they take place.
U.S. President Donald Trump on February 16 also said that Zelenskyy "will be involved" in any peace negotiations, without providing specifics.
Bloomberg, citing unnamed officials, reported on February 16 that Trump wants to secure a cease-fire by Easter, which falls on April 20 this year both for Western and Orthodox churches.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Putin's foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, arrived in Riyadh late on February 17 to take part in the talks with their U.S. counterparts.
SEE ALSO: What To Watch As U.S.-Russia Talks Begin Over Ukraine WarThe United States will also be represented by national-security adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, the State Department confirmed.
Kellogg is not scheduled to attend the Saudi sessions, but Zelenskyy said the U.S. presidential envoy will visit Ukraine on February 20.
"I want him to visit the front line with me [...] We will meet [Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr] Syrskiy and maybe some brigade commanders," Zelenskyy said.
Kyiv said Zelenskyy's visit to the region was aimed at boosting economic ties and that there were no plans to meet with U.S. or Russian officials.
The Ukrainian leader is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on February 19 for what Kyiv said were economic discussions.
Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, said there were no plans for Ukrainian representatives to attend the U.S.-Russia talks.
Zelenskyy has said he would not engage in negotiations before meeting with allies, including European leaders, to develop a strategy.
In a sign of bipartisan support from the U.S. Senate, Jeanne Shaheen -- the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee -- Republican Thom Tillis and Democrat Michael Bennet concluded a visit to Kyiv and other cities on February 17.
“It is more important than ever for the United States to stand firm with Ukraine," Bennet said.