Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that the country will not be involved in the talks in Saudi Arabia. In response to a question about the negotiations between Russian and US representatives in Riyadh, the head of state said that Ukraine had no knowledge of the discussions. Any agreement made without Ukraine would be considered ineffective and therefore not recognized in Kiev.
Despite this, Zelensky acknowledged that the meeting is bilateral, giving Russia and the US the right to discuss bilateral issues. He emphasized that his official visit to Saudi Arabia, scheduled for Tuesday, is unrelated to the contacts between Russia and the US. The Ukrainian president added that he would inquire about the negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President’s Special Representative for International Relations, Yuri Ushakov, arrived in Riyadh. According to official reports, the two are set to meet with the US delegation on Tuesday.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Zelensky aims to address the reduction of oil prices. Ultimately, a decision by US President Donald Trump could be implemented. At the end of January, Trump had urged OPEC countries to lower oil prices, which, in his opinion, could lead to a faster resolution of the Ukraine conflict.