Zelensky says Ukraine won’t be part of US-Russia talks, can’t accept deals made without Kyiv
Zelensky insists on Kyiv’s inclusion in any negotiations, highlighting the importance of Ukrainian voices in shaping the future of the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday his country will not take part in US-Russia talks this week on ending the war and will not accept the outcome of the talks if Ukraine doesn’t take part.
Speaking to journalists on a conference call from the United Arab Emirates, Zelensky said his government had not been invited to Tuesday’s planned talks in Saudi Arabia.
He said they would “yield no results,” given the absence of any Ukrainian officials, adding in comments carried by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency that the country “cannot recognise any things or any agreements about us without us. And we will not recognise such agreements.”
Ukraine wasn’t invited, which “makes the situation dangerous” because talks “should be held first with Ukraine to hear our position,” Ihor Brusylo, deputy chief of Zelensky’s office, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Monday. “The main thing is to avoid this back door, backdealing. It doesn’t help the situation.”
Zelensky said he would travel to Turkey on Monday and to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, but that his trip to the Arab nation was unrelated to the planned US-Russia talks.
Top Russian officials will hold talks with US counterparts on restoring ties, negotiating a peaceful settlement to the war in Ukraine and preparing a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said on Monday.