Amidst growing fears that Europe is being excluded from negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, the US and Russia are set to hold face-to-face talks in Saudi Arabia, while Kyiv reports it has not been invited, despite previous indications to the contrary. This comes after a week of significant shifts in Washington’s approach to the conflict, including direct contact between Presidents Trump and Putin after a three-year freeze, alongside statements suggesting a potential softening of US support for Ukraine, causing alarm among European and NATO leaders who are convening in Paris for an emergency meeting to talk about Ukraine and European security, with the UK even considering putting troops on the ground; despite these developments, Ukrainian President Zelensky has reiterated that he will never accept any deals negotiated without Ukraine’s involvement.

Editor’s Note: We agree with Zelensky – peace deal with Russia should include Ukraine. If anything, it should be Russia and Ukraine talking peace, not any other country brokering the negotiations. On the one hand, Zelensky has been uncompromising in his stance, and Europe has been fuelling his arrogance, which means that it might not be healthy to bring him to the table this early in the negotiations. On the other, all negotiations might be wasted if Ukraine’s interests are not prioritized. It is a complicated situation, and even more so, if we put the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the picture.

Nevertheless, any talk of peace is welcome, because the three-year freeze in Washington-Moscow communications placed the world too close to another World War. The situation must be de-escalated immediately, but Europe may be feeling jilted at the moment and is probably talking about retaliation. Will Europe choose to start a rift with the United States for this “rejection”? We hope not. For the sake of the people of Ukraine, and of world peace, we sincerely hope that a resolution may be found and that all parties to the Ukraine War get justice in the process.

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