Speaking at the Forum of Future Technologies in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will be ready to welcome "a return to our market for those who want to return" after heavy sanctions and a mass exodus of Western companies following Russia's 2022 assault on Ukraine. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, the first high-level meeting between Moscow and Washington officials since 2022, causing a rebound of the flailing ruble and raising prospects that economic sanctions could soon be re-examined under prospective peace negotiations. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES