Zelensky to Visit UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye
Zelensky erdo
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Friday that he will soon travel to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye but clarified that he has no scheduled meetings with Russian or U.S. officials during these visits.
"I will not meet with Russians, but I also have no plans to meet with Americans there," Zelensky stated. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed this week that he expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia for potential Ukraine peace negotiations.
As diplomatic maneuvers intensify, Zelensky is set to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Germany on Friday. The meeting is expected to focus on cautioning against placing trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid growing fears in Kiev and among European allies that the war in Ukraine could be decided without their direct input.
The Munich Security Conference, which kicks off shortly after a landmark meeting between Trump and Putin, has sent shockwaves through Ukraine and its NATO allies. The talks, coming nearly three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, have fueled concerns over the direction of U.S. policy on the war.
U.S. Signals Potential Concessions on Ukraine
Trump stated that he and Putin had agreed to launch Ukraine peace negotiations and engage in reciprocal diplomatic visits. Reports also suggest that the new U.S. administration is considering pressing Ukraine to relinquish some of its territory to Russia, while also deeming Kyiv’s NATO membership aspirations as “impractical.”
Ahead of his speech in Munich, Vice President Vance attempted to reassure European leaders, emphasizing that Trump’s administration was not approaching negotiations “with blinders on.” Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Vance stated, "Everything is on the table. Let's make a deal." He added that economic and even military leverage could be used in negotiations.
However, Vance remained vague on how much Ukrainian territory might remain under Russian control and what security assurances Washington and its Western allies could offer Kiev.
“There are many possible configurations, but ensuring Ukraine’s sovereign independence remains important,” he remarked.
Zelensky and EU Leaders Reject Secret Deals
On Thursday, Zelensky urged world leaders to “reject Putin’s false promises” and insisted that the U.S. must commit to a clear strategy to stop Russian aggression before entering any negotiations.
His concerns were echoed by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who warned that any settlement made without Kyiv’s involvement would be futile.
“Any deal behind our backs will not work,” Kallas asserted. “Appeasement has always failed, and it will fail again.”
