Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will not recognize the peace agreement between the United States and Russia.
The Ukrainian president insists that he will dismiss any agreement reached in Saudi Arabia to end the long-term conflict as he was left out of the negotiating table.
Senior U.S. and Russian officials, including senior state diplomats, will begin negotiations in Riyadh on Tuesday, the most important meeting between the two teams since the full-scale invasion of Moscow.
Before the negotiations began, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out any territorial concessions to Ukraine.
A quick-arranged meeting between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent Kyiv and key allies to ensure that concerns Washington and Moscow could reach an agreement without them Seat on the table.
“Without us, we would not be able to recognize anything or agreement about us. We would not recognize such agreements,” said Mr. Zelensky.
“Of course there is a bilateral track there. If the United States has bilateral issues, the United States has the right to do it. Honestly, they talked about it before. Until now they didn’t start talking publicly. At that time, it was like bad behavior – in wartime Talk to the invaders.”
Putin asks Ukraine to give up NATO bid
Putin asked Ukraine to withdraw its troops from four regions annexed by Russia in September 2022 and abandon its bid for NATO as part of any potential peace agreement.
Mr. Trump did not say whether he would continue to continue important military aid to Ukraine, saying he hoped $500 billion of rare earth minerals from Kiev, and Washington’s support needed to be “secured”.
Mr. Lavrov made any territorial concessions to Ukraine.
He said: “The Soviet Union was territorial concessions proposed by the Soviet leaders during the establishment of the Soviet Union.”
“How should we surrender with the Russians or rare earth metals?” Mr. Lavrov added.
Sergei Lavrov speaks at a press conference in Moscow, Russia on Monday
The talks in Saudi Arabia marked another crucial step in Mr. Trump’s administration’s revocation of U.S. policy of quarantine Russia and intended to pave the way for a meeting between the president and Putin.
Elsewhere, Britain became the first European military force to announce that it had prepared troops to Ukraine.
“British is ready to play a leading role in accelerating Ukraine’s security assurance efforts. This includes further support for the Ukrainian army – British Prime Minister Sir Kyle Stamer wrote in the Telegraph: “British has committed £3 billion a year , until at least 2030. ”
“But it also means being prepared and willing to contribute to Ukraine’s security assurance in order to put your own troops on the ground if necessary. I’m not saying it lightly. My very deep responsibility may make British soldiers and women Being hurt.”
Ukraine and several EU countries insist that Russia could invade the country again without security guarantees, even if it reaches a settlement.
Those guarantees may include NATO membership, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pouring cold water last week.
Ukraine also expressed hope to join the EU, but this is complicated and may take years.
