Mykhailo Podolyak denied Ukraine’s participation in Russia-U.S. talks in Saudi Arabia, stating that Russia is not ready for negotiations. Conflicting reports suggest Ukrainian representatives were expected, but official confirmations say otherwise. The meetings are likely to include U.S. and Russian officials, potentially influencing a future summit between their presidents.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has officially denied Ukraine’s participation in an upcoming peace meeting between Russia and the United States scheduled in Saudi Arabia. Podolyak stated on Ukrainian TV on February 15 that, “There is nothing on the negotiating table that would be worth discussing,” asserting that “Russia is not ready for negotiations.”
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the participation of Russian and Ukrainian representatives in the upcoming talks alongside senior U.S. officials. According to Politico on February 15, derived from a Republican lawmaker and two U.S. officials, discussions among representatives from all three nations are anticipated to commence shortly. However, a Ukrainian official later indicated that this announcement was unexpected for Kyiv, and there are currently no plans for a Ukrainian delegation.
Bloomberg also noted that the upcoming talks will primarily involve U.S. and Russian officials. The purpose of these discussions is reportedly to facilitate a potential summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month. Following a recent conversation with Putin, Trump expressed readiness to meet for peace discussions.
During the same day, Zelensky spoke at the Munich Security Conference, stating, “We didn’t talk about it. The media printed something… I do not know what it is.” Furthermore, Podolyak accused Russia of attempting to use the negotiation opportunity to gain an “operational pause to reconfigure its army” and to gain leverage in easing sanctions against the country. The Kyiv Independent reported that details of the Riyadh meetings remain unverifiable amidst these conflicting reports.
Ukraine has officially denied its participation in the Russia-U.S. meeting in Saudi Arabia, citing uncertainties about the negotiating agenda and asserting that Russia is unprepared for genuine talks. Conflicting reports have clouded the details of the upcoming discussions, with indications that only U.S. and Russian officials will attend. The situation remains fluid, emphasizing the complexities in international negotiations regarding this conflict.
Original Source: kyivindependent.com
