Former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Ukraine should never have initiated the conflict with Russia and suggested that the situation could have been avoided if Ukraine had negotiated an agreement with Moscow. His comments came following discussions between U.S. and Russian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which notably excluded both Ukraine and European nations.
"I heard today they're upset about not being invited. Well, you've been there for three years. You should have ended it three years ago. It should never have started," Trump remarked from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The exclusion of Ukraine from the negotiations in Saudi Arabia has sparked tensions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the decision as a "surprise" and postponed his planned trip to Riyadh.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to ease the situation by stating that "no one is being sidelined" and emphasized that any final agreement would require the approval of Ukraine and its European allies.
Trump, however, remained firm: "An inexperienced negotiator could have resolved this years ago without the loss of lives or the destruction of cities." He reiterated his belief that he could have brokered a deal that would have prevented the war: "That would have given them almost all the land and nobody would have died."
The meeting between the United States and Russia marked the first high-level dialogue since the conflict began and concluded with both sides agreeing to appoint teams to continue negotiations. Nonetheless, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear that Moscow would reject any agreement involving NATO forces in Ukraine.
Reactions in Europe were swift. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that any agreement would need U.S. backing to deter Russia from future aggressions. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz deemed it "premature" to discuss deploying European troops to Ukraine, while Italy's Giorgia Meloni called such a move "the most complex and least effective."
Zelensky, visibly frustrated, stated, "We want everything to be fair and for no one to decide anything behind our backs." The tensions persist, leaving the future of peace negotiations uncertain as Ukraine feels left out of the process.
What has happened in the days leading up to this?
The United States and Russia have embarked on direct negotiations to secure a peace deal, excluding both Ukraine and the European Union. This historic approach is being mediated by Saudi Arabia, leading to tensions among the parties involved in the conflict.
The talks focus on de-escalating military actions and establishing a ceasefire, though the absence of Kyiv and Brussels might undermine the legitimacy and feasibility of any agreements reached. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has expressed his support for these negotiations, stating that only Donald Trump could establish a lasting peace treaty between the parties.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Rubio emphasized that the current administration is progressing with a strategic plan to pacify the region, acknowledging that excluding Ukraine could complicate the implementation and respect of any agreements reached.
Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly rejected these bilateral discussions between Washington and Moscow, labeling them as unacceptable and against his country's interests. He stressed that any negotiation that disregards Ukraine and its demands for territorial sovereignty will lack practical and political value.
This stance by Zelensky could hinder peace efforts if Kyiv is not integrated into the process. The situation remains volatile, balancing delicate diplomacy with the harsh realities of the conflict on the ground.
Key Questions About the U.S.-Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Why was Ukraine excluded from the recent U.S.-Russia negotiations?
Ukraine was excluded from the negotiations in Saudi Arabia, which focused on de-escalation and a ceasefire. This exclusion has caused tensions, with Ukraine feeling sidelined from crucial peace talks.
What is Donald Trump's stance on the Ukraine-Russia conflict?
Donald Trump believes Ukraine should have reached an agreement with Russia to avoid the conflict. He claims he could have negotiated a deal to prevent the war, suggesting Ukraine was at fault for not doing so earlier.
How has Europe reacted to these negotiations?
European leaders have expressed concern over the negotiations without Ukraine and the EU's involvement. Figures like Keir Starmer and Olaf Scholz have stressed the importance of U.S. support and questioned the premature discussion of European military involvement in Ukraine.