U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Saudi Arabia, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in UAE, as they prepare for expected peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine. Rubio emphasized the complexity of achieving peace but highlighted the necessity for proactive steps. Zelenskyy expressed surprise about being invited to the Saudi talks, while European leaders stress Ukraine’s need for direct involvement.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia, coinciding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the United Arab Emirates. Their visits occur ahead of anticipated peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Rubio is accompanied by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, yet he has not revealed the specifics of his meetings in Riyadh. Reports suggest that negotiations are scheduled for Tuesday, with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expected to attend as well.
During a CBS interview, Rubio articulated that “one phone call does not make peace,” emphasizing the complexities of the situation. He asserted that former President Donald Trump stands as a potential leader capable of initiating the peace process. “Peace is not a noun, it’s a verb. It’s an action,” Rubio stressed, encouraging tangible efforts towards achieving peace. Rubio’s comments followed a recent call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, leading to the formation of negotiation teams expected to meet in Saudi Arabia.
Zelenskyy expressed his bewilderment regarding the upcoming meeting in Saudi Arabia, although prior communications indicated that Kyiv was invited to participate. On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, he stated, “I saw that someone said that there would be a meeting in Saudi Arabia. I do not know what it is.” While in the UAE, Zelenskyy indicated a desire to visit both Saudi Arabia and Turkey, although he does not plan to engage with U.S. or Russian officials during these visits.
In Munich, prominent European officials underscored the necessity of direct Ukrainian involvement in talks concerning the conflict. Notably, the European Union has not received an invitation to partake in the negotiations. Concurrently, various European leaders are set to convene in Paris for an emergency summit to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, which reflects growing uncertainties regarding Ukraine’s and Europe’s roles in the imminent peace discussions.
In conclusion, the concurrent visits of Marco Rubio to Saudi Arabia and Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the UAE signal a potential shift towards peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine. While both leaders prepare for negotiations, key questions persist regarding involvement and representation in these discussions, particularly for Ukraine and European powers. As talks commence, the international community watches closely for developments that might influence the course of diplomacy in the region.
Original Source: www.politico.eu
