Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would not participate in the upcoming talks between Russia and the United States in Saudi Arabia, according to Politico.
Ukraine will not take part in the negotiations. Ukraine did not know they were planned. And the visit to the region was planned long before the US decided to meet Russia there.
Speaking via video link from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Zelensky emphasised that Kyiv was not informed about the planned negotiations and reiterated that any peace talks excluding Ukraine would be futile.
Meanwhile, Zelensky’s presence in the region, coinciding with the scheduled Russia-US meeting, sparked speculation about Ukraine’s potential involvement. However, the Ukrainian leader clarified that his visit to the UAE and upcoming trip to Turkey were planned independently and had no connection to the talks.
The US had reportedly invited Ukraine to join the talks, a move that surprised Kyiv. Zelensky’s comments highlighted the lack of coordination between Ukraine and its Western allies regarding the negotiations.
Strengthening ties with UAE, Turkey
During his visit to the UAE, Zelensky signed an economic cooperation partnership agreement, opening the door to free trade between the two nations. He also announced plans to travel to Turkey on Tuesday, the same day Russia and the US are expected to meet in Riyadh. Zelensky will only arrive in Saudi Arabia the following day.
So, once again, my visits have nothing in common with those talks. Although when I arrive in Saudi Arabia, I will ask his majesty what he knows about the topics of the talks.
Zelensky expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of talks involving Russia, noting that engaging with the country during wartime was traditionally frowned upon. However, he acknowledged that discussions about renewing negotiations had been ongoing for some time.
The Ukrainian president also welcomed the prospect of European leaders participating in future negotiations, provided they offer Ukraine real security guarantees and exert pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue peace.
Russia, US dismiss European involvement
However, both Moscow and Washington rejected the idea of European participation in the talks. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Monday:
It is not clear to me why European countries should participate in negotiations on Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added that the US-Russia meeting would focus on restoring bilateral relations and preparing for potential negotiations on a Ukrainian settlement, including a possible summit between the two presidents.
Zelensky’s refusal to participate in the Russia-US talks underscored Ukraine’s insistence on being a central player in any discussions about its future.
Meanwhile, his focus on strengthening economic ties with the UAE and Turkey reflected his broader strategy of securing international support and ensuring Ukraine’s voice would be heard in global diplomatic efforts.
As the conflict continues, the lack of alignment between Ukraine, its allies, and Russia highlights the challenges of achieving a meaningful resolution to the war. Zelensky’s firm stance signals that Ukraine will not accept peace talks that “undermine its sovereignty” or exclude its direct involvement.
