Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly stated that his country will not participate in any US-Russian talks regarding the war in Ukraine unless Kyiv has a seat at the negotiation table.
Zelensky made it clear that Ukraine cannot accept any agreements or decisions made about their future without their involvement.
Zelensky’s Strong Position on Ukraine’s Role in Negotiations
Speaking to journalists from the United Arab Emirates, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine was not informed about recent talks in Saudi Arabia.
He stressed that any agreements made without Ukraine’s presence would not be recognized.
The President pointed out that without Ukrainian officials being part of the discussions, such talks would likely be ineffective and yield no results.
Zelensky’s statements come ahead of his own planned visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, but he clarified that his trip had no connection to the US-Russia talks happening earlier in the week.
Russian Minister Lavrov Defends Moscow’s Position on Territory
In a related development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted that Russia has no intention of surrendering any of the Ukrainian territories it has seized.
Lavrov dismissed the idea of making territorial concessions, arguing that Russia would not give up regions inhabited by Russian speakers or rich in valuable resources like rare earth metals.
Lavrov, who is currently visiting Riyadh for talks with US officials, mentioned that the main focus of these meetings would be to restore the full scope of US-Russian relations, as well as prepare for potential discussions on a Ukrainian settlement.
US Secretary of State Leads Talks in Saudi Arabia
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the American delegation in talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
The meetings aim to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This diplomatic effort follows a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which they agreed to initiate negotiations between their teams.
The call marked a significant shift in US policy, which had previously isolated Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky’s Response to the US-Russia Dialogue
After the phone call between Trump and Putin, President Trump informed Zelensky about the conversation.
Trump assured reporters that Zelensky would be involved in future talks but did not provide details on the level of involvement.
In response, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would not accept any outcomes from the US-Russian discussions unless his country had a direct role in the talks.
Zelensky is set to travel to Turkey on Monday before heading to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, but once again clarified that his visit to the Kingdom would not be tied to the ongoing US-Russia negotiations.
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