Secret US‑Russia talks in Saudi Arabia shock Ukraine and EU
Michael McCaul announced that the USA and Russia are planning a meeting in Saudi Arabia, which surprised Ukrainian officials. Kyiv was not informed about the negotiations.
Republican member of the House of Representatives, Michael McCaul, stated during the Munich Security Conference that a meeting between the USA and Russian negotiating teams will take place in Saudi Arabia in the coming days. Ukrainian officials were surprised by this information, claiming they were not invited. "I do not know what it is," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Zelensky expressed doubts about the seriousness of the talks that would occur without Ukraine's involvement. "Well, this is not a serious conversation, it seems to me," he stated. His advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, emphasised that Russia is not ready for negotiations. "There is nothing on the negotiating table that would be worth discussing," he added.
Concerns in Europe
The information about the planned meeting in Saudi Arabia has raised concerns in Europe. The worries centre on the possibility of Trump negotiating an agreement without the involvement of Kyiv and its allies. "Only in the perverse world of Trump diplomacy is the larger invading country given more respect than the country that was invaded," said Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Illinois.
Some of Kyiv's allies in Washington are shocked by Trump's actions. Senator Lindsey Graham emphasised that the outcome of the talks is what matters, not the process itself. "President Trump owns the outcome. What matters is how it ends," he stated. European leaders, like Finnish President Alexander Stubb, are calling for Europe's involvement in negotiations, highlighting their importance for the future security of the continent.
