Zelenskyy Excluded from Vital Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia: What's Next for Ukraine?
In an unexpected twist, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy found himself excluded from crucial discussions about Ukraine’s future, recently held in Saudi Arabia on February 18, 2025. This high-profile meeting involved delegations from the United States, Russia, and their esteemed Saudi hosts, but conspicuously lacked any representatives from Ukraine or the European Union, raising concerns about the legitimacy of decisions being made without direct Ukrainian input.
The meeting followed a cordial phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin just days prior, which was celebrated in Moscow. Trump’s administration has previously expressed intentions to include Ukraine in future negotiations, but recent actions suggest a troubling shift toward diminishing Kyiv’s voice on the global stage. By sidelining Ukraine, the narrative being promoted aligns with longstanding Russian policies that have sought to undermine the legitimacy of Ukraine’s leadership.
Putin has consistently rejected Ukrainian statehood and the current government’s right to exist, labeling it a “Kyiv regime.” This dismissive approach echoes the Kremlin’s larger strategy to portray Zelenskyy as illegitimate, thus complicating the peace dialogue. Trump himself recently suggested elections in Ukraine as a part of any peace deal, further complicating the situation. He inaccurately claimed that Zelenskyy holds just a 4% approval rating, despite polls indicating the Ukrainian leader enjoys a favorable 57% among his constituents.
The call for elections during an ongoing conflict not only undermines the democratic process but also poses significant risks. Many Ukrainians, including political opponents of Zelenskyy, believe the timing is not right for elections, emphasizing that wartime conditions could provoke division rather than unity against external threats. The complexities of holding elections amid military engagements raise significant logistical challenges, from securing polling sites to engaging with voters displaced by conflict.
Zelenskyy himself, while open to future elections, stresses that the pressing issues of war and national security must be prioritized before any voting can occur. He feels strongly that under martial law—implemented following the onset of the Russian invasion—the prospect of a fair election is fraught with dangers, including potential interference from outside influences, particularly Russia, which has a long history of meddling in Ukrainian affairs.
In a larger context, these developments have significant implications for Ukraine’s relationships with allies and the perceptions that govern international collaborative efforts toward peace. As the U.S. seems to adopt rhetoric typically associated with Russian narratives, Ukrainian leaders find themselves in an increasingly precarious situation: agree to elections and risk internal strife, or reject them only to be portrayed as obstacles to peace negotiations.
The world is watching closely as Ukraine navigates these turbulent political waters, with the hope that sovereignty and democracy will ultimately prevail despite the challenges. The ongoing conflict with Russia has fortified a national commitment to democracy among the Ukrainian people, with a recent survey showcasing a 76% belief that democracy remains the best governing system.
As negotiations progress—albeit without Ukrainian representation—the outcomes will be pivotal, affecting not just Ukraine’s future but also the geopolitical landscape.
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