Ukraine’s Zelensky postponed Saudi visit to avoid giving ‘legitimacy’ to US-Russia meeting, say sources
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attending a joint press conference with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey, on Feb 18.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky postponed his visit to Saudi Arabia in order to not give "legitimacy" to the meeting on Feb 18 between US and Russian officials in Riyadh, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Speaking earlier on Feb 18 in Turkey, Mr Zelensky said he had postponed his visit
"(Ukraine) didn’t want to appear to give anything that happened in Riyadh any legitimacy," one of the sources said.
Mr Zelensky said in Ankara that he had not been invited to the Feb 18 meeting
"We want no one to decide anything behind our backs... No decision can be made without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine," Mr Zelensky said.
US President Donald Trump, who took office on Jan 20, has repeatedly vowed to swiftly end the war. He has pushed for an immediate start to peace talks, but comments from his top officials have raised questions over what he has planned.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Nato allies last week that it was unrealistic for Ukraine to join the Nato alliance as part of a negotiated settlement with Russia and that Kyiv's hopes of restoring its internationally recognised borders were an "illusionary goal".
Mr Hegseth appeared to backtrack on those remarks the day after making them, but his comments left some Ukrainians worried that the US could decide their country's fate behind its back.
Mr Trump made separate phone calls to Mr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, raising concerns among Kyiv's European allies that they will be cut out of any peace process. REUTERS
