Zelenskyy Insists Ukraine Must Be Included in Talks to End War with Russia

in any discussions of a ceasefire of the war with Russia. This comes after the US and Russia agreed on a team to negotiate an end to hostilities. Ukraine was not, however, part of the negotiation, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between US and Russian officials.

Zelenskyy stated that any decision on the fate of Ukraine must be made without the participation of Ukraine. He added that he wished to visit Saudi Arabia but postponed the trip until March 10 in order to avoid misunderstandings.

The talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio were focused on a way to end the war when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. They agreed to form high-level teams to work together on a way towards peace and address issues between the US and Russia.

While the meeting was still underway, Russia made it clear that it opposed Ukrainian membership in NATO but acknowledged Ukraine’s right to be a member of the European Union. Zelenskyy, on his side, invited the US, Europe, and Ukraine to be incorporated into any future negotiations over Ukraine’s security assurances.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to host any future peace talks, recalling previous talks held in Istanbul in 2022. Despite ongoing fierce fighting on the front lines, including Russian advances in Donetsk, both sides continue to seek a path to peace.