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As US-Russia talk of ‘ending’ Ukraine war, Zelenskyy says ‘no talks’ without Kyiv, postpones Saudi visit

"Talks are taking place between representatives of Russia and the United States of America. About Ukraine—about Ukraine again—and without Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gestures as he speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP)

Hours after US-Russia representatives met in Riyadh to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday reiterated that no discussions on ending the war should take place without Kyiv’s involvement.

“Talks are taking place between representatives of Russia and the United States of America. About Ukraine—about Ukraine again—and without Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy added that achieving a ‘just’ peace requires the participation of the United States, Ukraine, and Europe in security guarantee negotiations for Kyiv.

“Ukraine, Europe in a broad sense – and this includes the European Union, Turkey, and the UK – should be involved in conversations and the development of the necessary security guarantees with America regarding the fate of our part of the world,” he said at a press conference in Ankara, quoted by AFP.

He also added that his planned visit to Saudi Arabia, originally set for Wednesday, has been postponed until March 10.

Earlier, in an interview broadcast on Monday, the Ukraine’s president said, “The US is now saying things that are very favourable to Putin … because they want to please him. They want to meet quickly and have a quick win. But what they want – just a ceasefire – is not a win,” according to a translation provided by broadcaster ARD.

“We [Ukraine] will not sign just anything in order to be applauded … the fate of our state for generations to come [is at stake].”

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