Russia-US talks spark EU push for peace negotiation seat
The European Union must be involved in discussions concerning the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine, announced U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He believes that any negotiations should address the interests of Ukraine, Russia, and the European Union.
During a press conference following discussions with Russian officials in Riyadh, the U.S. Secretary of State highlighted that, because the European Union has imposed sanctions on Russia, its participation in future negotiations is essential.
"Rubio said that the European Union, which had been sidelined from Tuesday’s talks, would 'have to be at the table at some point,' because they have sanctioned Russia over its war in Ukraine," reported CNN. Secretary Rubio simultaneously dismissed suggestions that Europe had been excluded from the negotiations, emphasizing that the outcome must be "fair, enduring, sustainable and acceptable."
The USA speeds up talks but consults allies
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz noted that the United States holds daily consultations with both Ukraine and its allies. However, he emphasized that Washington aims to act swiftly to bring the conflict to an end.
– The goal is to bring an end to this conflict in a way that’s fair, enduring, sustainable and acceptable to all parties involved – summarized Rubio.
In the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, the first high-level meeting between delegations from the United States and Russia since the war in Ukraine began took place on Tuesday. The talks focused on rebuilding bilateral relations and preparing for potential peace talks regarding Ukraine.
Neither Ukraine nor the European Union were invited to the talks, causing outrage in both Kyiv and many European capitals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he would not recognize the outcome of the talks in Riyadh, as any negotiations regarding Ukraine are meaningless without Ukraine's involvement.
