Ukraine has denied participation in peace talks between Russia and the United States set to take place in Saudi Arabia, according to Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In comments on Ukrainian TV on February 15, Podolyak stated that there is nothing worth discussing between the parties, and that Russia is not ready for negotiations. The statement comes amid conflicting reports suggesting Russian and Ukrainian representatives will join senior U.S. officials in Riyadh for talks.
A Republican lawmaker and two U.S. officials familiar with the meeting told Politico on February 15 that talks were set to begin in the coming days. However, a Ukrainian official later confirmed that the announcement came as a surprise, and there are no plans to send a Ukrainian delegation.
Bloomberg reported that only U.S. and Russian officials will participate in the talks in Saudi Arabia, paving the way for a potential summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month. Podolyak suggested Russia’s presence at the negotiating table is aimed at securing an “operational pause” to reconfigure its army while gaining leverage over the situation and easing sanctions on the country.
The details of the upcoming meetings in Riyadh remain unclear amid conflicting reports, with The Kyiv Independent unable to verify the information.
Source: https://kyivindependent.com/official-denies-ukraine-will-participate-in-russia-us-meeting-in-saudi-arabia-amid-conflicting-reports