Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his anger at Ukraine not being included in US-led negotiations on ending the Ukraine-Russia War, such as the talks held between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday in Riyadh.
“There can be no decision without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine. We were not invited to this meeting, the Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia. This was a surprise to us, as it was to many. We learned about it from the media,” Zelensky said at a joint press conference in Anarka with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as reported by BBC Russia.
“I have the impression that some kind of negotiations are taking place now, and they are happening with the same attitude, but between representatives of Russia and the United States,” he continued. “About Ukraine, again about Ukraine and without Ukraine. It is interesting that if we did not accept all these ultimatums at the most difficult moment, where does the feeling come from that Ukraine would accept them now?” Zelensky said, as reported by Interfax Ukraine.
Zelensky added that the end of the war would only come about with unilaterally fair peace negotiations.
Ukrainian-Russian negotiations and Turkey
“To ensure the war ends with a reliable and lasting peace, no mistakes can be allowed. This is only possible when negotiations are fair and guarantees are developed with the participation of all those who can truly provide them,” he said. Today, we discussed this issue with President Erdogan, and I am grateful to him for his understanding.”
Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska, visited Anarka to open the new Ukrainian embassy in Turkey on Tuesday.
In the joint press conference, Erdogan emphasized that Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty were indisputable in the eyes of Ankara in the coming period.
He also proposed that Turkey would be an appropriate venue for any possible peace talks involving Russia. Also, he said that US President Donald Trump’s recent diplomatic initiative to seek an end to the Ukraine-Russia war aligned with the Turkish policy since the start of the conflict three years ago.
Zelensky announced that his official visit to Saudi Arabia will be delayed until March. Reuters reported that this move was to not give legitimacy to Thursday’s meeting in Riyadh.
“I will not go to Saudi Arabia. We contacted our partners in Saudi Arabia. I have a very good relationship with His Royal Highness Mohammed. We have just been in touch and agreed that I will make an official visit on March 10,” Zelensky said, as reported by the Moscow Times.
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
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