Volodymyr Zelensky not attending US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia as Donald Trump attempts to end Ukraine war

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will reportedly not attend US-Russia peace talks in Saudi Arabia, claiming he was not invited, as scrutiny over an agreement made without Ukraine continues.

US President Donald Trump has continued to pursue a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he assembled a hand-picked team to lead peace talks.

A special envoy, led by US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, security adviser Mike Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe is preparing to travel to the Middle East nation for talks to end Moscow’s war with its neighbour.

A Ukrainian team has arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the talks, however, Mr Zelensky has not, saying “I do not know what it is” when asked about the US-Russia talks in the Middle East.

Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is part of the Ukraine team in Saudi Arabia, however, didn’t clarify whether there is a link between the trip and the peace talks.

In a Facebook post, she said that the Ukrainian delegation’s focus is on strengthening economic ties, as Kyiv “prepares to sign important economic agreements with countries in the region”.

Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to Mr Zelensky, said earlier on Sunday that there was no possibility of Ukrainian and Russian representatives meeting directly in the immediate future.

In a Telegram post, Mr Yermak said the Ukrainians weren’t planning to enter talks “until we develop a plan” to end the war and bring about a “just peace”.

Mykhailo Podolyak, another advisor to Mr Zelensky, denied that Ukraine will participate in any planned US-Russia meetings in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

“There is nothing on the negotiating table that would be worth discussing,” Mr Podolyak said on Ukrainian television.

But Ms Svyrydenko’s remarks came within hours of an announcement by Mr Witkoff that high-level meetings were imminent in Saudi Arabia to discuss a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine.

Speaking to Fox News, Mr Witkoff said that he and national security adviser Mike Waltz will be “having meetings at the direction of the president,” and hope to make “some really good progress with regard to Russia-Ukraine”.

Mr Witkoff didn’t specify who they would be meeting and what they would discuss, but he said that he was leaving for Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening.

Following a lengthy phone call with Mr Putin on Wednesday, Mr Trump noted that they “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” on ending the fighting.

Earlier this week, Russian officials and state media took a triumphant tone after Mr Trump jettisoned three years of US policy and announced that he would likely meet soon with Mr Putin to negotiate a peace deal in the almost three-year war in Ukraine.

Mr Trump’s announcement created a major diplomatic upheaval that could herald a watershed moment for Ukraine and Europe.

Mr Zelensky said that he wouldn’t accept any negotiations about Ukraine that don’t include his country.

European governments have also demanded a seat at the table. A handful of leaders are gathering in Paris for a discussion about Ukraine on Monday.

Mr Putin has been ostracised by the West since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader.

Mr Witkoff didn’t directly respond to the question about whether Ukraine would have to give up a “significant portion” of its territory as part of any negotiated settlement.

“Those are details, and I’m not dismissive of the details, they’re important. But I think the beginning here is trust-building. It’s getting everybody to understand that this war does not belong continuing, that it should end. That’s what the president has directed us to do,” he said.

- With AP