Zelensky postpones Saudi visit amid crucial Kyiv talks
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, cancelled his visit to Saudi Arabia scheduled for Tuesday. Originally set for Wednesday, it has now been rescheduled to 10th March. As noted by Zelensky, this change is due to a meeting with the U.S. delegation in Kyiv preceding the visit.
The President of Ukraine announced the postponement of his planned Wednesday visit to Saudi Arabia. It has been moved to 10th March. This decision was made in anticipation of the arrival of the U.S. delegation in Kyiv.
"We are absolutely honest and open. I don’t want any coincidences. That’s why I’m not going to Saudi Arabia," Zelensky stated at a press conference in Ankara.
Talks on ending the war. Moved to 10th March
Zelensky referred to Tuesday's talks in Riyadh between the U.S. and Russian delegations. "You cannot make decisions without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine, on any conditions," he said.
The Ukrainian President emphasised that Kyiv was not invited to Tuesday's meeting, which was unexpected for the Ukrainian authorities. "I am convinced that for Ukraine, our region, for Europe, it is important that any talks about ending the war do not happen behind the backs of those affected by the consequences of Russian aggression," he declared.
Zelensky noted that Ukraine, Europe, including the EU, the United Kingdom, and Turkey, should be involved in the talks and development of security guarantees. "We know that they [US] and several other European partners do not support our membership in NATO," he added, assessing that this aligns with Russia's wishes.
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, emphasised that Zelensky's visit to Turkey is happening at a time when significant changes could occur in the dynamics of the war in Ukraine. He expressed his belief that Turkey is the ideal venue for future talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the USA.
Erdogan also reminded that Turkey hosted Ukrainian-Russian talks in March 2022. It also participated in the grain initiative, which unlocked the export of Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports.
