Zelenskyy Has Made It Clear: US-Russia Talks That Exclude Ukraine Are a Non-Starter

Kyiv Independent

While the Kremlin hails the upcoming discussions in Saudi Arabia as a step towards peace, Kyiv insists any agreements made without its participation are invalid. Understandable. If I were in Zelenskyy’s shoes, whose fate is likely being decided by a foreign nation, I would also be angry.

Zelenskyy is adamant that Ukraine must be included in any negotiations regarding its future.

On Monday, the Ukrainian president emphasized that “Ukraine regards any negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine as ones that have no result, and we cannot recognize… any agreements about us without us.”

He criticized the US for excluding Ukraine and its European allies from preliminary talks.

The hastily arranged meetings between Trump and Putin’s officials have set off alarm bells in Kyiv.

The US and Russia are scheduled for talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz and special envoy Steve Witkoff, is set to meet the Russian delegation led by Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov.

The meeting was reportedly just postponed from Thursday to Friday.

The US aims to gauge Russia’s seriousness about ending the war, while Moscow frames the talks as a chance to end its diplomatic isolation.

European leaders believe this is giving Russia a platform, which they firmly oppose.