Ukraine sidelined as US‑Russia talks commence in Saudi Arabia
- We cannot recognise any agreements or decisions made about us without us. And we will not recognise such agreements, - declared the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
- Ukraine will not participate. Ukraine knew nothing about this. Ukraine considers any negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine to be meaningless. We cannot recognise any agreements or decisions made about us without us. And we will not recognise such agreements, - Zelensky stated to journalists during a visit to the United Arab Emirates.
The President emphasised that his official visit to Saudi Arabia, planned for Tuesday, "has nothing to do with what is happening in Saudi Arabia at the level of U.S. and Russian representatives".
Talks with the USA in Saudi Arabia
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov will participate on Tuesday in talks in Saudi Arabia with representatives of the USA, - declared Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The meeting is intended to address the rebuilding of bilateral relations and preparations for possible peace talks regarding Ukraine, - he added.
Lavrov and Ushakov are heading to Riyadh on Monday.
The spokesperson did not provide an answer on Monday as to whether there would be a meeting in February in Saudi Arabia between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, - reported Reuters.
On Monday, the American portal Axios, citing sources, reported that there would be high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday between representatives of the US and Russian governments about ending the war in Ukraine.
According to the portal, the American side will be represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and the US President's envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
