As the Russia-Ukraine war takes a new turn with a crucial US-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia, optimistic news is emerging from the discussions. Various reports from the high-level meeting suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin is now open to engaging in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Kremlin also intimated on Tuesday that Vladimir Putin is ready to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, “if necessary”, the Kremlin said on Tuesday as Russia and the US held peace talks in Saudi Arabia.
What The Putin Aide Said
Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s aide and Kremlin’s spokesman, said on Tuesday Putin had “repeatedly said he is ready to speak about peace” but that Moscow’s “wider security issues” must be addressed first.
“Putin himself said that he would be ready to negotiate with Zelensky if necessary but the legal basis of agreements needs discussion considering the reality that Zelensky’s legitimacy can be questioned,” Peskov added.
The Russian president has repeatedly blamed Nato expansion in eastern Europe as a reason for its invasion of Ukraine and said Kyiv joining the military alliance was a non-starter.
But Peskov said Russia would not stand in the way of Kyiv joining the European Union.
According to Russia Today (Pro Putin English channel), Russia’s senior US and Russian officials also convened in Saudi Arabia to explore ways to repair bilateral relations, which have been strained by the Ukraine conflict. The potential thaw was initiated by US President Donald Trump, who has acknowledged Moscow’s stance that NATO’s expansion in Europe is a major factor in the hostilities and has signaled a desire to swiftly resolve the crisis.
Zelensky In Saudi Too?
As the world eagerly awaits updates from the high-level meeting between Moscow and Washington, it’s important to highlight that Ukraine has not been invited to these talks, leaving European nations shocked by Washington’s dramatic shift in policy toward Moscow since the Trump administration took office.
This marks the first time that Russian and U.S. diplomats will meet for talks since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Donald Trump, who has often called for a quick resolution to the ongoing three-year conflict, has been outspoken about his stance on the issue.
How Zelensky Reacted to US-Russia Meet In Saudi Arabia?
Ukraine’s President Zelensky however, said Kyiv “does not know anything about” the talks in Riyadh, adding that “Kyiv cannot recognise any agreements or things discussed about us without us.”
President Zelensky’s spokesperson has confirmed that the Ukrainian president will be in Riyadh a day after the Russia-U.S. meeting, as part of his scheduled visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey. The spokesperson emphasized that President Zelensky will not be meeting any officials from Russia or the U.S. during his time in the region.
Sergiy Nykyforov, the spokesperson, clarified that Zelensky’s stopover in Saudi Arabia with his wife, Olena Zelenska, is part of a “long-planned” official visit.
