US, Russia Discuss Ending Ukraine War In Saudi Arabia Without Kyiv; Zelenskyy Accuses Trump Of Pleasing Putin

As top US and Russian diplomats prepare to meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, discussions on the Russia-Ukraine war will take place—without Ukraine at the table. The high-level talks mark the first such engagement between Washington and Moscow since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, yet expectations for tangible outcomes remain low, NDTV reported.

The meeting, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, follows a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The absence of Ukrainian representation has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accusing Washington of prioritizing its relationship with Moscow over Ukrainian interests.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the talks would focus on "restoring the whole complex of Russian-American relations," alongside discussions on "possible negotiations on a Ukrainian resolution" and a potential future meeting between Trump and Putin.

However, Ukraine’s exclusion has intensified concerns about the direction of these negotiations. Zelenskyy, reacting to the talks, alleged that the US is attempting "to please Putin" by engaging in discussions that align with Russian interests.

"We will not sign just anything in order to be applauded," he stated, underscoring that Ukraine's future hangs in the balance. Despite his concerns, Zelenskyy acknowledged the critical role of US support, warning that "there will definitely not be a Ukrainian victory without US backing."

Just last week, Zelenskyy had expressed willingness to meet Putin—but only if Ukraine and its allies first established a united stance on ending the war. However, Trump's push for a swift resolution appears to offer Moscow an opportunity to press its demands regarding Washington’s military presence in Europe. Before launching the 2022 invasion, Putin had called for NATO’s withdrawal from several Eastern European countries that were once part of the Soviet sphere of influence.

Meanwhile, Moscow has been emboldened by recent battlefield gains, with Russian forces pushing back Ukrainian troops along the 1,000-kilometer front line and reclaiming territory, including a village in the western Kursk region. As Ukraine fights to hold its ground, its exclusion from these diplomatic talks only deepens concerns about the long-term trajectory of the war and Kyiv’s role in shaping its resolution.