🌍 In a surprising move, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Riyadh on Monday to kick off peace talks with Russian officials regarding the ongoing Ukraine crisis. However, these negotiations are making headlines for leaving out two crucial players: Ukraine and Europe.
Joining Rubio in the talks are U.S. Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Representing Russia will be Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov. 🤔
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine will not participate in these talks and will reject any agreements that exclude the country. Currently based in the UAE, Zelenskyy is set to visit Saudi Arabia soon to discuss lowering oil prices, emphasizing that his trip is separate from the U.S.-Russia negotiations. However, he plans to stay informed about the talks through Saudi officials.
Concerned about being sidelined, European leaders are taking action. 🇪🇺 French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday, bringing together leaders from NATO, the European Commission, and key European nations like Germany, Britain, Poland, Spain, Italy, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The goal? To coordinate a unified European response ahead of the U.S.-Russia talks.
Chen Yu, deputy director at the Eurasian Institute, highlighted Europe's core interest in Ukraine. He expressed worries that bypassing Europe in these negotiations could undermine European interests and lead to a peace deal that overlooks the concerns of both Ukraine and Europe, potentially allowing Russia to expand its influence in the West. 🚨
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on Riyadh and Paris to see how these developments will shape the future of the Ukraine conflict and international relations. Stay tuned for more updates! 🔍
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U.S.-Russia peace talks omit key players: Ukraine and Europe
cgtn.com
