International Leaders Engage in Preparatory Talks for Ukraine Peace Negotiations
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are both in the Middle East, with Rubio in Saudi Arabia and Zelenskyy in the UAE, as peace talks concerning Russia’s war in Ukraine are anticipated. Uncertainties remain regarding the specific meetings and the roles of Ukraine and Europe in these discussions, prompting urgent summits and calls for direct Ukrainian involvement.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy landed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday evening. Both officials’ visits set the stage for anticipated peace talks aimed at concluding Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Rubio is accompanied by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Notably, Rubio has not revealed the specific individuals with whom he will meet in Riyadh.
Reports from Russia’s Kommersant and Axios indicate that discussions are scheduled for Tuesday, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov likely visiting Riyadh. Rubio, during his appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” remarked, “One phone call does not make peace,” emphasizing the complexity of the conflict and stating that former President Donald Trump is uniquely positioned to initiate the peace process. He also expressed that, in his view, “peace is not a noun, it’s a verb. It’s an action. You have to take concrete steps toward it.”
Rubio’s journey follows a recent conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, wherein both leaders agreed to promptly begin negotiations and announced a potential face-to-face meeting in Saudi Arabia. However, President Zelenskyy expressed astonishment at the Saudi gathering, despite earlier claims from the American side that Ukraine had been invited. He stated, “I saw that someone said that there would be a meeting in Saudi Arabia. I do not know what it is,” during the Munich Security Conference.
During his planned visit to the UAE, Zelenskyy expressed his desire to also travel to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, yet he does not intend to engage with representatives from the United States or Russia. At the Munich conference, leading European figures underscored the necessity for Ukraine’s direct involvement in any negotiations between Trump and Putin. Furthermore, the European Union has not received an invitation to these discussions, leading to uncertainty regarding its role in the peace talks.
In addition to these developments, some European leaders are set to convene in Paris for an emergency summit focused on security guarantees for Ukraine. The increasing ambiguity surrounding Kyiv’s and Europe’s participation in the anticipated peace negotiations underscores the complexities of the current geopolitical landscape.
The arrivals of Marco Rubio and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at significant international locations signal crucial preparatory steps for peace discussions regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Key leaders emphasize the importance of direct Ukrainian involvement, yet uncertainties persist regarding the roles of various parties in these negotiations. As international dialogues unfold, the outcomes remain pivotal in shaping future engagements within the region.
Original Source: www.politico.eu
