February 17th, 2025
Ukraine Warns US-Russia Talks Without Kyiv Pose ‘Dangerous’ Risks
It is “dangerous” for the United States and Russia to hold discussions on the war in Ukraine without Kyiv’s direct involvement, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy cautioned on Monday.
High-level US-Russia negotiations are set to take place on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, following last week’s phone call between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin regarding potential solutions to end the war.
However, Ukraine was not invited, a move that raises serious concerns, according to Ihor Brusylo, deputy chief of Zelenskiy’s office. Speaking to Bloomberg TV, he emphasized that bypassing Ukraine in diplomatic discussions is a serious mistake.
“This situation is dangerous because negotiations should first be held with Ukraine to understand our position,” Brusylo stated. “Backdoor deals do not contribute to resolving the crisis.”
US and Russian Officials Meet in Riyadh Without Ukraine
The US delegation in Riyadh will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
On the Russian side, President Putin is dispatching Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and top foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed. The discussions will focus on restoring broader US-Russia relations, negotiations on Ukraine, and the possibility of a Putin-Trump summit.
Kyiv Condemns Exclusion from Talks
President Zelenskiy said Ukraine “knew nothing about” the discussions and warned that they “will have no outcome” without Ukraine’s direct participation.
“We cannot recognize any agreement about us without us,” Zelenskiy told reporters via videoconference from the United Arab Emirates, where he is currently on an official visit.
Zelenskiy plans to press Saudi officials for more details on the US-Russia meeting during his visit to Riyadh on Wednesday, according to reports from AFP.
US Special Envoy to Visit Ukraine Amid Rising Concerns
In a bid to reassure Kyiv, US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg is scheduled to visit Ukraine on February 20, where he is expected to meet with Zelenskiy and possibly visit the frontlines.
“We will have a broad conversation about security guarantees,” Zelenskiy said. “It is crucial that he understands the reality on the ground and conveys it to the White House.”
Trump-Putin Call Signals Shift in US Policy on Ukraine
The recent 90-minute phone call between Trump and Putin marked the first publicly announced contact between a US president and Putin since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Trump described the call as “highly productive” and confirmed that he and Putin may meet in Saudi Arabia in the near future.
Notably, Trump’s approach marks a departure from his predecessor Joe Biden’s policy, which insisted on Kyiv’s involvement in any Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Additionally, Trump has reversed longstanding US support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and NATO aspirations—a move that could have significant geopolitical consequences.
🔥 Key Takeaways
✅ Kyiv warns that US-Russia talks without Ukraine are “dangerous” and lack legitimacy.
✅ Trump’s policy shift moves away from supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty & NATO ambitions.
✅ US and Russian delegations to meet in Riyadh to discuss broader relations and Ukraine.
✅ Ukraine seeks clarity on the talks and invites US special envoy for a direct briefing.
✅ A potential Putin-Trump summit could reshape the future of the Ukraine conflict.
👉 How will these secret negotiations impact Ukraine and global stability?