Ukraine was not invited for US-Russia peace talks, the source tells the BBC

Kiev has not been invited to negotiate between the US and Russia with the aim of ending the war in Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian government’s source has told the BBC.

For Ukraine Keith Kelog, the US special envoy had said that Kiev would attend Monday conversation in Saudi Arabia, but the source said no delegation would be present.

European leaders have also not been asked to join the discussion, and the French President is in a hurry to meet in Paris on Monday rather than meeting in Paris, as the fear increases is exiting the continent talks.

Separate meetings follow a turbulent week where Washington has indicated a huge change in its approach to the war in Ukraine.

The Middle East envoy of the White House, Steve Witchoff, confirmed that he was traveling to Saudi Arabia on Sunday evening, for the first face-to-face talks between the US and Russia to end the conflict.

US Secretary Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are also ready to meet Russian negotiaters there, after less than a week US President Donald Trump made a phone call with Russia leader Vladimir Putin. On Wednesday, the call ended the three -year freeze on direct contact between Moscow and Washington.

Zelanski repeatedly refused to accept a peace deal without Ukraine, on Sunday we told the television network NBC that “he would never accept any decision between the United States and Russia about Ukraine. , Never”.

Witcoff said that American officials were speaking separately with Ukrainian officials and it was a “part of the dialogue” – but did not indicate whether Kiev would be present in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Rubio reduced the Saudi Arabia dialogue, stating that a meeting would not solve the war and the process of a formal conversation – which would mediate between Ukraine, Russia and third parties – not yet established. Was.

However, he told CBS News that the next few days would determine whether Putin was serious about achieving peace.

It is against this background that a group of European leaders – including the UK Kir starrer, NATO general secretary Mark Rute, German Chancellor Olaf Sholaz and the European Commission Ursula von dera Leyen – will – Will – Will – Will – Will Will. Meet in paris,

A statement received by BBC American partner CBS News confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron would hold an informal meeting on Ukraine and European security in the afternoon.

However, French External Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barot said that the summit should not be “highly-dislikes”.

The US Ukraine messenger Kelog had rejected concerns over Europe when not invited to Saudi Arabia, arguing that the previous conversation failed due to the participation of a lot of parties.

He said on Saturday, “It can be like a chalk on the blackboard, it can be a bit, but I am telling you something that is really honest.”

The meetings mark an acceleration in Trump’s efforts to achieve a sharp end for the war.

The White House stated that the US President held a “long” phone-call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, after which Trump said that talks would begin immediately to stop the “ridiculous war” in Ukraine.

He also said that it was not “practical” to join NATO for Ukraine and “unlikely” it could return to its pre-2014 pre-infection boundaries.

Ukraine has repeatedly called NATO membership and rejected the seeding area as part of any peace deal.

Trump is also stance Echoed by his Defense Secretary, Fueling the European alarm that the US can make concessions in Russia before interacting on any peace agreement.

Pete Hegseth also said that European countries should provide a “heavy” part of funding for Ukraine – claiming that the US will no longer tolerate a “unbalanced relationship with its colleagues”.

US Vice President JD Vance similarly told the Munich Suraksha Sammelan on Friday that Europe should “take a big way to protect its own”, spent largely in his speech. Criticism of European democracy.

Zelansky called on Saturday Building a European Army, Arguing the continent can no longer trust Washington.

Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine continued on Sunday – Zelanski said that a Russian attack left at least 100,000 people without power in Mycolive.

He said that the houses on the “important infrastructure” of the house were without heating the houses after the drone strike.

Russia began a full -scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, already part of Crimea and Eastern Donbas region in 2014.