Ukraine has not been invited to upcoming peace talks between the United States and Russia aimed at ending the ongoing war, a senior Ukrainian government source told the BBC.
US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, previously indicated that Kyiv would participate in the Saudi Arabia discussions, but sources confirm no Ukrainian delegation will be present.
European leaders were also left out of the negotiations, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to organize an emergency summit in Paris on Monday amid growing concerns that Europe is being sidelined in diplomatic efforts.
US Signals Shift in Ukraine Strategy
These separate meetings follow a significant shift in Washington’s approach to the war in Ukraine. The White House’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed he was heading to Saudi Arabia for the first direct US-Russia negotiations aimed at achieving peace.
US President Donald Trump revealed that Witkoff had already met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for an “extended period of about three hours.”
Witkoff, a billionaire real estate developer and Trump associate, was in Moscow this week to negotiate the release of a US teacher imprisoned for marijuana possession.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are also set to meet Russian representatives in Saudi Arabia, less than a week after Trump’s call with Putin ended a three-year freeze on direct US-Russia communications.
Zelensky Rejects Any US-Russia Agreement Without Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly opposed any peace deal brokered without Kyiv’s involvement. In an interview with NBC on Sunday, he reiterated: “I would never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never.”
Despite this, Witkoff claimed US officials were engaging separately with Ukrainian representatives and insisted that Ukraine was “part of the talks,” though he did not clarify if Kyiv would be present in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Trump told reporters in Palm Beach that he expected Zelensky’s involvement in the peace process, without specifying how. He also announced that European nations could purchase US weapons for Ukraine.
Europe’s Response to Exclusion from Talks
The exclusion of European leaders from the Saudi Arabia talks has prompted Macron to host an urgent summit in Paris, bringing together key figures such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Ahead of the meeting, Starmer stated that the UK was ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, even suggesting that British troops could be deployed if necessary. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, he emphasized that securing lasting peace in Ukraine is crucial to preventing further Russian aggression.
US Stance Raises European Concerns
Keith Kellogg dismissed concerns about Europe’s exclusion from the Saudi Arabia talks, arguing that previous negotiations failed due to too many parties being involved. “It may grate a little, but I’m telling you something that is really quite honest,” he said on Saturday.
US officials have hinted at potential concessions to Russia, raising alarm in Europe. Trump stated it was “not practical” for Ukraine to join NATO and called it “unlikely” that Ukraine would regain its 2014 borders.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this stance, insisting that European nations must take on the majority of financial support for Ukraine’s defense, stating that the US would no longer tolerate an “imbalanced relationship” with its allies.
Vice President JD Vance reinforced this message at the Munich Security Conference, urging Europe to “step up in a big way” in its own defense spending.
Zelensky, in response, called for the formation of a European army, arguing that the continent could no longer rely on US protection.
Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine
Amid these diplomatic shifts, the war in Ukraine continues. On Sunday, Zelensky reported a Russian drone strike on Mykolaiv’s critical infrastructure, leaving at least 100,000 residents without power and heating.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, following the annexation of Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region in 2014.
As the US-Russia talks commence, the global community watches closely to see whether they will lead to a breakthrough—or further complicate Ukraine’s path to peace.