Russia-US Meeting on Ukraine Set for Feb. 18 Without Kyiv’s Participation
Recent reports indicate that high-level discussions between the United States and Russia regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are scheduled to commence on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. The Russian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while the U.S. team will be headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Notably, Ukrainian representatives have not been invited to participate in these talks.
The U.S. delegation also includes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The primary objectives of these discussions are to explore avenues for restoring U.S.-Russia relations and to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine. These talks follow a recent phone conversation between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, during which they agreed to initiate immediate negotiations concerning the Ukrainian conflict.
The exclusion of Ukraine from these negotiations has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials and European allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized that any agreements reached without Ukraine’s involvement would be unacceptable and ineffective. European leaders have also expressed apprehension about being sidelined in discussions that directly impact regional security.
As the U.S. and Russia prepare for these talks in Saudi Arabia, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, particularly regarding the potential implications for Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape.
