In the talks between Russia and the United States in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, regarding the war in Ukraine, the two sides have agreed to establish a high-level group to hold talks on establishing peace. What happened in the peace talks? When will the war in Ukraine end? A news collection on.
The war in Ukraine is about to complete its third anniversary. Trump, who took office as US President last month, has taken a completely different position on the war in Ukraine from the policy decision taken by former President Joe Biden.
Joe Biden intensified the international effort to isolate Russia, which has launched military action against Ukraine. Joe Biden was adamant that there will be no talks with Russia until the occupied Ukrainian territories are returned to Ukraine.
Last week, US President Trump, who spoke privately with Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky on the phone, caused a stir by saying that Russia is ready for talks. Furthermore, it was announced that the Russia-US talks on the Ukraine war would be held in Saudi Arabia.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Putin in 2023 on charges of war crimes. Since Saudi Arabia is not a party to the International Criminal Court, Putin can travel to the country without fear. Saudi Arabia has also played a key role in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to release prisoners. That is why Saudi Arabia has been chosen for the ceasefire talks.
Accordingly, the United States and Russia have held peace talks in Saudi Arabia. On the American side, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff participated.
On the Russian side, the country’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Foreign Policy Advisor Yuri Ushakov were present.
Ukraine and other European countries were not invited to these peace talks.
President Zelensky has categorically stated that he will not accept any peace agreement that does not include Ukraine.
In this context, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that three things have been agreed upon between the United States and Russia.
First, both countries will soon appoint ambassadors. Restrictions on bank transfers and government work at embassies of the two countries will be lifted.
Second, the necessary steps will be taken for a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine. For this, the United States will first appoint its representatives. Only then will Russia appoint representatives. Third, the necessary conditions will be created to start and improve full cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described Ukraine’s accession to NATO as a direct threat to Russia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has said that all parties must give up on sanctions against Russia, has also stated that Europe will have to join these negotiations after some time.
In this context, Zelensky has called for the old days of US support for Europe to be over and a new “Army of Europe” to defend itself against Russia to be created.
Since Zelensky’s presidential term ended in May last year, it is questionable whether Zelensky is legally continuing as the president of Ukraine.
The US and Russia are advancing peace talks without the participation of European countries. As a result, European countries are being sidelined in important decisions regarding Ukraine.
To address this problem, European countries have convened an emergency summit in Paris. The leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, and Denmark are participating in this.
It is also expected that the results of these negotiations may lead to a transformation of Europe’s security architecture in the coming years.
