Volodymyr Zelenskyy postponed a trip to Saudi Arabia to avoid credibility in U.S.-Russia discussions and refuse deals without authorization
The United States (U.S.) President – Donald Trump’s Administration has said it will hold more talks with Russia on ending the Ukraine war.
The decision follows an initial round of talks held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that notably excluded Ukrainian representatives, marking a shift from Washington’s previous approach, which focused on rallying allies to isolate the President of Russia – Vladimir Putin.
After the 4.5-hour meeting, Russia hardened its stance, explicitly rejecting the possibility of Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Foreign Minister of Russia – Sergei Lavrov, maintained that Moscow would not tolerate NATO troop deployments in Ukraine under any circumstances. Beyond military and territorial considerations, Russia has shown keen interest in lifting Western economic sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov highlighted the potential for easing economic barriers and fostering “historic economic partnerships” between the U.S. and Russia should the war come to an end.
Following the discussions, Trump expressed optimism, indicating that he anticipates a potential meeting with Putin before the end of the month.
Speaking to media, Trump said, “Russia wants to do something. I think I have the power to end this war.”
Ukraine has said it will not accept any deal imposed without its consent. Ukraine remains deeply skeptical of the negotiations, with President – Volodymyr Zelenskyy postponing a planned visit to Saudi Arabia to avoid lending legitimacy to the U.S.-Russia talks.
Even before the talks took place, some European politicians accused Trump’s Administration of handing free concessions to Moscow last week by ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine and saying it was an illusion for Kyiv to believe it could win back the 20% of its territory now under Russian control.
U.S. National Security Adviser – Mike Waltz told reporters in Riyadh that the war must come to a permanent end, and this would involve negotiations over territory. The U.S. also acknowledged that European nations, which have imposed their own sanctions on Russia, would need to be part of any discussions on economic relief. However, concerns remain that a premature deal could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and reward Moscow’s aggression.
The talks have also sparked debate in Washington, where lawmakers have approved billions in military aid for Ukraine on a bipartisan basis. The U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss voiced his concerns, stating, “Russia has won Round One. The Kremlin has been normalized in bilateral diplomacy that excludes Ukraine and NATO, and they gave up nothing to get that.”
