Ukraine has stated that it was not informed about planned negotiations between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia and will not recognise any decisions taken at the meeting if they concern Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised Kyiv’s position ahead of the talks, which could take place as soon as Tuesday in Riyadh.
The US delegation to the meeting includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff. On the Russian side, the attendees will include Yuri Ushakov, a long-time foreign policy adviser to President Vladimir Putin, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
While the meeting is reportedly aimed at discussing a broader framework for negotiations involving Ukraine, Rubio has stated that Kyiv and the European Union will have a place at the table when discussions on ending the war begin.
However, Ukraine’s exclusion from the preparatory talks raises concerns in Kyiv, reinforcing perceptions that the US administration under Trump prefers direct negotiations with authoritarian leaders, bypassing key stakeholders.
US and Russia Seek to Establish Dialogue
According to Washington, the meeting in Riyadh is primarily intended to explore possible mechanisms for future peace talks involving Ukraine. However, diplomatic observers suggest that the very nature of such preparations typically requires all key parties to be involved from the outset. The lack of Ukrainian participation highlights a pattern seen in Trump’s approach to diplomacy—prioritising direct engagement with leaders he views as primary decision-makers.
Ukraine’s exclusion has fuelled speculation that the talks may not primarily focus on reaching a settlement to the war but rather on setting the stage for a potential meeting between Putin and Trump. Russia appears to be pushing for such a summit, seeing it as an opportunity to engage with the US president while military operations continue in Ukraine.
Macron’s Position and European Reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently spoke with Zelensky ahead of an emergency summit of European leaders in Paris, has indicated that France would welcome any agreement leading to a cessation of hostilities. However, he has also acknowledged that Putin has previously dismissed the idea of an immediate ceasefire.
Putin’s stance has been consistent: Russia will only support what it calls a “sustainable peace” based on resolving what it claims to be the root causes of the conflict. This has been widely interpreted as a demand for Ukraine and its Western allies to accept territorial concessions and changes to Kyiv’s geopolitical alignment—conditions that Ukraine has categorically rejected.
Putin’s Strategy and Trump’s Challenges
For the Kremlin, a high-profile meeting between Putin and Trump would be strategically advantageous. It would enable Russia to demonstrate that it remains a central player in global politics, despite Western sanctions and military setbacks. Furthermore, holding such a meeting while military operations continue would reinforce the image of Trump engaging with Moscow under conditions dictated by the Kremlin.
From Washington’s perspective, Trump faces a dilemma. While any agreement that reduces hostilities would be welcomed in some quarters, a perception that he is too accommodating to Putin could damage his standing both domestically and internationally. The political optics of a US-Russia summit while Russian missiles continue to strike Ukrainian cities would likely be controversial.
The extent to which Trump is concerned about these perceptions remains unclear. His administration has often prioritised what it sees as American national interests over broader Western unity, and his past rhetoric has suggested a willingness to redefine US foreign policy in ways that diverge from traditional alliances.
Uncertain Prospects for Peace Talks
The upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia may ultimately prove to be more about procedural discussions than substantive negotiations. Without Ukrainian participation, any framework emerging from the meeting is unlikely to gain broad acceptance.
Moreover, if a future Trump-Putin summit takes place without clear preconditions for ending the war, it risks being seen as a diplomatic victory for Moscow rather than a meaningful step towards peace. The key question remains whether Trump can secure any concessions from Putin or whether the meeting will merely serve as a symbolic event reinforcing Russia’s position.
As US and Russian officials prepare to meet, the outcome of their discussions—and their implications for Ukraine—will be closely watched in Kyiv and European capitals. However, without Ukraine at the table, the legitimacy of any future agreements remains in question.
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