Zelenskyy: Ukraine not invited to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Kiev has not been invited to participate in talks between the United States and Russia, expected to take place in Saudi Arabia, on ending Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Speaking on February 15, Zelensky also said that Ukraine would not talk to Russia without first consulting its European allies.

"We have no document, no invitation. It is strange for me to speak on this occasion, in this way, if we have not previously had any conversations with each other as allies and strategic partners ," he said during the Munich Security Conference.

"As far as I know, Russia is not our strategic partner ," he added.

Zelensky's reaction comes after United States President Donald Trump will send a team of senior American officials to Saudi Arabia to begin talks with Russia, American officials told various media outlets.

US officials told reporters on February 15 that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Middle East negotiator Steve Witkoff will participate in the talks.

Keith Kellogg, Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia, is not expected to attend the talks, according to media reports citing US officials.

US officials did not provide details on when the meetings in Saudi Arabia would take place. Rubio arrived in Israel on the evening of February 15 after attending the Munich conference.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelensky, said that "there are no negotiators who will represent Ukraine in Saudi Arabia."

"Today, there is nothing on the negotiating table that can be discussed. Russia is not ready for negotiations ," he told Ukrainian television after Zelensky's comments on February 15.

Meanwhile, European leaders are expected to gather next week in Paris for an emergency meeting regarding the war in Ukraine.

This meeting is expected to be held amid concerns that Washington will leave Europe out of talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

Kellogg caused surprise when he said that Europe might not be at the "table" if the United States mediates talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Speaking at a lunch panel at the Munich Security Conference on February 15, Kellogg hinted that Washington aims to make significant progress within weeks, stressing that he is acting "on Trump's time."

Amid concerns in Kiev and the European Union that they could be sidelined after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week and said Russia and the United States would immediately begin negotiations, Kellogg stressed that Ukraine and Europe would not be left out.

"You have to involve the allies. Will they play a role? Of course they will. We want to make sure it's a sustainable and long-term peace," he added.

However, when asked if he could guarantee the audience that "the Ukrainians will be at the table and the Europeans will be at the table," Kellogg replied, "Oh, well, you just changed the whole dynamic."

"The answer to the last question... is no," he said, apparently referring to Europe. "The answer to the first part of that question is yes, of course the Ukrainians will be there."

The US State Department said on February 15 that Secretary Rubio spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier in the day.

Rubio's conversation with Lavrov " took place in the wake of talks following President Donald Trump's call with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week," a brief statement said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and EU leaders have expressed their opposition to holding talks without the involvement of their negotiators.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called against a "quick solution" and a "dirty deal" to end the conflict, insisting that no peace agreement can be implemented without the involvement of Europe and Ukraine.

Addressing the Munich conference, Zelensky called on European countries to establish a joint army, in the event of a possible withdrawal of the United States and in the face of continued threats from Russia.

"The time has come, the European Armed Forces must be created," he said.

"If the Americans decide to leave, to limit their presence, it is not good, of course, it is dangerous," Zelensky said. On the sidelines of the Munich conference, the G7 industrialized countries reiterated their "unwavering support for Ukraine."/REL