US and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia next week to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. The meeting aims to end Moscow's nearly three-year conflict with Ukraine, but notably, Ukraine has not been invited to participate. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Kyiv will not engage with Russia without first consulting its strategic partners. This gathering marks a significant diplomatic effort to resolve the conflict but raises questions about the exclusion of European and Ukrainian participation.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has emphasized that the war will only truly end when Ukrainian sovereignty is secured, underscoring the necessity of Ukraine's involvement in peace talks. Despite this, the US delegation, comprising Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, is expected to attend the meeting without European counterparts. This move has sparked concern among European leaders about being sidelined in the discussions.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Zelenskyy's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak have been actively engaging with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi to outline Kyiv's vision for peace. China advocates for the inclusion of all stakeholders in the peace talks, emphasizing Europe's role. Nonetheless, Finland's President Alexander Stubb has expressed frustration at the prospect of being shut out, urging Europe to "talk less and do more."
“Europe needs to talk less and do more” – Alexander Stubb
The meeting's agenda is expected to focus on US efforts to exclude European leaders, Europe's position on Ukraine's potential NATO membership, and security guarantees for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump's administration has proposed securing 50% of Ukraine's rare earth minerals, a controversial suggestion that could affect future negotiations.
French President Emmanuel Macron is attempting to convene an emergency meeting of European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to address growing concerns over Trump's influence on the peace process. Macron's efforts highlight Europe's desire to remain actively engaged in shaping Ukraine's future.
“We will also not accept any solution that leads to a decoupling of European and American security. Only one person would benefit from this: President Putin.” – Olaf Scholz
The exclusion of Europe from these critical talks has drawn criticism from many quarters. Finland's President Alexander Stubb reiterated that discussions about Ukraine's future must involve European voices.
“There’s no way in which we can have discussions or negotiations about Ukraine, Ukraine’s future or European security structure, without Europeans.” – Alexander Stubb
The potential summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin looms large over these proceedings. Both sides have expressed their willingness to engage on pressing international issues, including the situation in Ukraine. Moscow announced that regular contacts are planned to prepare for this high-level meeting.