Summary:
- Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Ukraine for not accepting a negotiated deal with Russia earlier, claiming it could have avoided widespread destruction and loss of life.
- U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia marked their first direct diplomatic engagement since the 2022 invasion, with both sides agreeing to form negotiation teams but clashing over NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskiy condemned his country’s exclusion from the Saudi talks, insisting no peace deal should be decided without Ukraine’s involvement.
- European leaders failed to unify on a response, with divisions over troop deployments and skepticism about military solutions overshadowing the Riyadh negotiations.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Ukraine for prolonging its conflict with Russia during remarks at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday, stating the country “could have made a deal” to avoid widespread destruction. His comments followed unprecedented face-to-face negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials in Riyadh aimed at ending the three-year war.
Key Developments
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov led delegations in the first direct talks since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Both nations agreed to appoint teams to negotiate a potential ceasefire, though Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s refusal to accept NATO peacekeepers in Ukraine, calling such a prospect “completely unacceptable.”
Trump, speaking to reporters, claimed he could have secured a deal granting Ukraine “almost all of the land” without bloodshed. “You should have never started it,” he said, addressing Ukrainian leaders. His remarks drew sharp criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who called the exclusion of Ukraine from the Saudi talks a “surprise” and emphasized, “You cannot make decisions without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine.”
Global Reactions
European leaders convened in Paris to address the shifting diplomatic landscape but failed to unify on a response. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested deploying British troops as a deterrent, while Germany’s Olaf Scholz dismissed troop discussions as “premature.” Italy’s Giorgia Meloni labeled military deployment “the most complex and least effective” solution.
Rubio acknowledged Europe’s critical role in sustaining sanctions but asserted “no one is being sidelined” in negotiations. Lavrov stressed the need to restore U.S.-Russia cooperation, stating the talks were “very useful.”
Implications for Ukraine
Zelenskiy, appearing visibly strained during a press conference in Turkey, warned against backdoor agreements, insisting any resolution must be “fair” and inclusive. Analysts note Ukraine’s reliance on U.S. military aid, now uncertain under Trump’s renewed influence, could weaken its bargaining power.
The Riyadh meeting marks a tentative step toward diplomacy, yet deep divisions persist over NATO expansion and territorial concessions. With Russia controlling nearly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, the path to peace remains fraught as global stakeholders weigh competing priorities.
