Ukraine Excluded from US-Russia Talks on Conflict Resolution

Ukraine will not attend US-Russia talks aimed at resolving the conflict, citing lack of notification. President Zelensky expressed surprise at the meeting’s announcement, deeming it insignificant. US envoy Witkoff defended the absence of exclusion, while concurrent summit discussions in Europe aim to assess reactions to Trump’s peace initiatives. Diplomatic tensions continue to emerge regarding Ukraine’s role in negotiation processes.

Ukraine will not participate in US-Russia discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, as they claim they were not adequately informed of the meeting’s occurrence. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced his plans to travel to Saudi Arabia for talks with Russian officials on how to conclude the war, following Donald Trump’s agreement to meet Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his surprise, stating, “I saw that someone said that there would be a meeting in Saudi Arabia. I do not know what it is.” He also dismissed the discussions as insignificant, suggesting, “Well, this is not a serious conversation, it seems to me.”

Despite being excluded from the Saudi talks, Ukrainian officials are adamant that they will not adhere to any agreements reached there. Witkoff refuted the notion that Ukraine was purposely omitted, arguing, “I don’t think this is about excluding anybody. In fact, it’s about including everybody.” The upcoming US-Russia talks will be among the first high-level discussions in years.

In parallel, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to host an emergency summit with European leaders, including British opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer, to discuss the implications of Trump’s initiative to negotiate peace. The summit aims to assess European countries’ responses to Trump’s plan as they navigate these diplomatic developments.

The absence of Ukraine from these critical talks has raised concerns among its leaders and European officials about transparency and inclusion in negotiations regarding the conflict. Nonetheless, Macron’s gathering and Witkoff’s comments suggest that inclusion remains a topic of concern as dialogue continues to evolve.

In summary, Ukraine will not attend the US-Russia talks due to a lack of notification, as President Zelensky emphasizes the seriousness of the discussions. Witkoff insists Ukraine’s exclusion was not intentional, reflecting broader issues of diplomatic inclusion. Concurrently, Macron’s emergency summit aims to evaluate European reactions to Trump’s peace process efforts. The situation reveals underlying tensions regarding negotiation transparency and the necessity for Ukraine’s involvement in determining its future. Overall, these developments highlight the complexities of international relations and the need for coherent dialogue resolutions.

Original Source: www.standard.co.uk