12 minutes agoZelensky says Ukraine was invited to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Ukraine's president, Voldymyr Zelensky, has said Kiev has not been invited to participate in talks between the United States and Russia, which are expected to be held in Saudi Arabia, for ending Moscow's war in Ukraine. Speaking on February 15th, Zelensky also said Ukraine would not talk to Russia [...]
Ukraine's president, Voldymyr Zelensky, has said Kiev has not been invited to participate in talks between the United States and Russia, which are expected to be held in Saudi Arabia, for ending Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Speaking on 15 February, Zelensky also said Ukraine would not talk to Russia without first consulting its European allies.
“We don't have any documents, no invitations. It's strange for me to talk in this case, in this way, unless we've previously held any conversations between ourselves as allies and strategic partners”, he said during the Security Conference in Munich, reports Radio Free Europe.
“As far as I know, Russia is not our strategic partner”, he added.
Zelensky's reaction comes after United States President Donald Trump will send a team of senior American officials to Saudi Arabia to start talks with Russia, American media officials said.
US officials told reporters on February 15th that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House National Security adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East negotiator Steve Whitoff will participate in the talks.
Keith Kellogg, Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia, is not expected to participate in the talks, according to media quoted American officials.
American officials gave no details as to when meetings will be held in Saudi Arabia. Rubio arrived in Israel on the evening of February 15, after attending the Munich conference.
Mykhaylo Podolyak, Zelensky's senior adviser, said that “does not have negotiators who will represent Ukraine in Saudi Arabia”.
“Today, there is nothing at the negotiating table that can be discussed. Russia is not ready for negotiations”, he told Ukrainian television following Zelensky's comments on February 15th.
Meanwhile, European leaders are expected to gather in Paris next week for an emergency meeting in connection with the war in Ukraine.
This meeting is expected to take place following concerns that Washington will leave Europe out of negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Kellogg raised surprise when he said Europe may not be in <x0thryesis”, if the United States brokers talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
Speaking at a lunch panel at the Munich Security Conference on February 15th, Kellogg hinted Washington intends to make significant advances within weeks, stressing that it is acting “with the time of Trump”.
Amid concerns in Kiev and the European Union that they could be bypassed after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week and said Russia and the United States would start negotiations immediately, Kellogg stressed that Ukraine and Europe would not be excluded.
You must include the Allies. Will they play a role? Of course I do. We want to make sure that it is a lasting and long-term peace”, he added.
However, when asked if he could guarantee the audience that the <x0-oukrains will be on the table and Europeans will be on the table”, Kellogg replied: “Oh, well, as soon as you changed all the dynamic”.
The answer to the last question... is not”, he said, apparently referring to Europe. The answer to the first part of that question is yes, of course the Ukrainians will be there”
The US State Department said on February 15th that Secretary Rubio spoke on the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier in the day.
Rubio's conversation with Lavrov “took place on the continuation of the talks following President Donald Trump's conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week”, a brief communiqué said.
Ukraine's president, Voldymyr Zelensky, and EU leaders have voiced their opposition to holding talks without the involvement of their negotiators.
EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas called against a <x0 rapid resolution” and a dirty “agreement for the end of the conflict, insisting that no peace agreement can be implemented without the involvement of Europe and Ukraine.
Addressing Munich's conference, Zelensky urged European countries to establish a common army, in the event of possible withdrawal of the United States, and in the face of ongoing threats from Russia.
The time has come, the European Armed Forces must create”, he said.
If Americans decide to leave, limit their presence, it's not good, of course, it's dangerous”, Zelensky said.
In the margins of Munich's conference, the industrialized countries of G7 re-ex0> reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine.
