Media reports that both the US and Russia opposed inviting Ukraine to the talks held today in Riyadh, despite Saudi Arabia, as the host country, suggesting this option.
According to Bloomberg, Vladimir Zelenskyy expressed surprise that Ukraine was not invited to the meeting. He emphasized that the decision to end the war cannot be made without Ukraine’s participation, adding that neither the US nor Russia had invited Ukraine to the negotiations. He also announced the cancellation of his planned visit to Saudi Arabia, which was scheduled for tomorrow, and rescheduled it for March 10.
Bloomberg pointed out that Zelensky’s exclusion from the discussions about Ukraine’s future highlights changes in US diplomatic policy following the recent conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. This, along with the potential for a high-level meeting between them, shows the new US administration’s urgency to reach an agreement to end the conflict. In response, Zelenskyy and European leaders are trying to find ways to influence Trump to avoid a decision where Ukraine would have to either agree to the terms or walk away.
The publication also quotes former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.”
