Ready to talk to Zelensky

 

Ukraine
Now the negotiations are underway – the American and Russian leaders are in place

Olivia Birgander

TT

Updated 10.55 | Published 09.27

Now Russia and the US are meeting in Saudi Arabia where Ukraine's future can be decided. The talks are taking place just days after the war has been going on for three years.

But despite Russia having made it clear that there is no place for Ukraine at the negotiating table, Zelensky has announced a state visit to Saudi Arabia.

At the same time, Vladimir Putin is said to be ready to talk to Zelensky if necessary, the Kremlin says.

       

        First pictures from the historic meeting

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Negotiations between Russia and the US started this morning. Both parties have sent leaders to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia where the countries are to meet. The Russian delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy advisor. From the US side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Mike Waltz, who is national security adviser, will participate.

Earlier this week, President Trump also said that direct talks between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia could become a reality in the "not too distant future".

           

           

         

         The delegations on site in Saudi Arabia.

         1 / 3Photo: Evelyn Hockstein / AP

Today's meeting is described as the most significant between the two countries since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is ready to talk to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if necessary, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said in a statement that Ukraine has every right to join the EU. However, not when it comes to military cooperation.

- Our position is of course completely different when it comes to issues related to security, defense and military alliances. We have a different approach there and everyone knows it, Peskov said at his daily appearance, according to Russian media.

Ahead of the day, the US said that its goal is to find out whether Russia is serious about negotiating an end to the war. Moscow says the meeting will focus on the relationship between the US and Russia.

When Yuri Ushakov landed in Saudi Arabia on Monday, he reiterated Russia's previous line, that the talks will be only between Russia and the US. He insisted that there is no third party. This means that Ukraine is excluded. It also seems that no representative from Europe will have a seat at the negotiating table.

Zelensky's move: Traveling to Saudi Arabia

President Volodymyr Zelensky will also travel to Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian media report. As recently as last week, he announced a state visit on February 19, where, among other things, talks about a prisoner exchange are on the agenda. A Ukrainian delegation is already in place to prepare for his arrival.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: AP

However, according to Zelensky, it is just a coincidence that he is traveling to Saudi Arabia at the same time as the talks are being held and that he does not plan to meet with either American or Russian representatives.

During the Munich Security Conference a few days ago, the Ukrainian president pointed a boot at Trump.

– Ukraine will never accept agreements made behind our backs, he said at the time.