As Russia and the US in Riyadh talked about ending the war, however, Zelenskyy reiterated from the negotiations that the discussion could not be conducted without Ukraines involvement.

The discussions, aimed at ending the war between the United States and Russia, took place in Riyadh on Tuesday. However, Ukrainian Prime Minister Zelenskyy declined to arrive in the country, despite originally planning to go to Saudi Arabia. He cited travel reasons for his absence during a media briefing in Turkey, where he was meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan.

He said, We want no one to decide anything behind our backs… No decision can be made without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine, and postponed his trip to Riyadh until March 10.

Aim of talks with Russia

The discussion regarding the Ukraine-Russia War lasted over four hours and involved U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and senior diplomats from both nations. The meeting focused on restoring diplomatic relations and facilitating peace between Ukraine and Russia.
Rubio stated, No one is being sidelined, emphasizing that European involvement is essential, and that any agreement must be acceptable to all parties.

The meeting also focused on restoring the United States’ relations with Russia. During Bidens administration, all ties were severed, and the U.S. openly supported Ukraine while working closely with European allies to impose sanctions on Russia. This situation raises skepticism, as Trump’s approach represents a significant departure from the previous government’s strategy. There are also growing concerns about a potential withdrawal of support for Ukraine.

Diplomacy in Riyadh

The meeting between the US and Russia attracted international attention to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to redefine diplomatic relations with the US following the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a neutral player between the US and Russia.
This Saudi city is emerging as a global diplomatic hub, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acting as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict by facilitating negotiations and prisoner exchanges.

Trump’s commentary on Kyiv

Trump criticized Kyivs leadership for failing to prevent the conflict, blaming Ukraine for allowing the war to start in the first place. He stated, Youve been there for three years. You should have ended it three years ago. His remarks indicate his intention to prioritize the relationship between Russia and Ukraine over the traditional support for Ukraine.

Peace talks

During talks with Zelenskyy, Erdogan suggested that Turkey could be an appropriate venue for discussions about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The involvement of Europe, the US, and Ukraine in the dialogue would contribute to peace, as stated by Zelenskyy according to Reuters.