The diplomacy scene spilled over this Monday after five days of high‑level international politics. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an unprecedented move, stood up the American delegation waiting for him in Riyadh, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Americans had lengthened their stay in the Saudi capital to align with the Ukrainian president, who had a prearranged visit to the Arab country starting tomorrow. Yet, visibly angered by a previous meeting between Trump’s emissaries and Putin, Zelenskiy paused the trip to avoid sending a misleading signal and said that if they wish to meet him, they should come to Kiev.
The clear tilt of American diplomacy toward Russia in shaping any potential ceasefire became evident from the outset. Trump phoned Putin first, the aggressor, leaving Zelenskiy to last. This set the tone for a new era of U.S. diplomacy that prioritizes the stronger side, even at the expense of an ally. Kiev acknowledged the gesture and thanked Trump for the initiative. But four hours of talks between the top U.S. and Russian diplomats in Riyadh and the pledge of political and economic rapprochement between the two nations have unsettled the chart further.
Zelenskiy finds support in this political contest from the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Turkey, the most influential NATO members outside Washington. The leaders of Europe gathered in Paris for a rapid, emergency alignment, echoing the maxim that nothing about Ukraine should happen without Ukraine. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted Zelenskiy in Ankara on Monday. The order of events should be rewritten: Kiev first, then Moscow.
“Ukraine, Europe—in a broad sense, including the European Union, Turkey, and Great Britain—should participate alongside the United States in the talks and the security guarantees that affect our part of the world,” Zelenskiy said from Ankara. The comment underscored a plea for inclusive, multilateral negotiations rather than a process led by one side. (Fuente: El Periódico de España)
European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, announced new multinational talks this week to assess the Ukraine situation, calling for a forum that brings together all relevant parties. In this framework, the need for negotiations to involve Russia, Ukraine, Europe, and the United States was echoed by lawmakers who argued that meaningful decisions require the entire configuration in the room. It was a reminder that any deal will demand broad participation and real guarantees.
Ukraine’s position is echoed by lawmakers who stress that any peace plan must involve all the major players. In Munich, a Ukrainian legislator noted that discussions should include Russia, Ukraine, Europe, and the United States to build credible security guarantees for the region. Without that, the negotiations risk becoming nothing more than talk about talk.
Reports note Zelenskiy did not cancel a planned meeting with Rubio, indicating that the talks continued alongside other dialogues. The Ukrainian leader had, in fact, met earlier in Munich with Vice President J. D. Vance, signaling ongoing engagement with U.S. administration figures.
Radical shift in relations with Russia
The Trump administration is signaling a dramatic pivot toward Moscow. The Riyadh gathering aimed not only to sketch a peace framework for Ukraine but to revive broader economic and diplomatic ties between the two powers. Washington and Moscow have begun staffing up their diplomatic teams and preparing for a possible Trump–Putin encounter. A separate note cautions that Putin faces an international arrest warrant over alleged crimes, complicating any direct dialogue.
This marks the first hopeful tone between the two capitals in more than three years since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. After initial moves by the West to isolate Russia, there is now talk of moving past those sanctions and finding common ground on energy, security, and trade.
Marco Rubio, speaking after a conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, asserted that there were opportunities to cooperate with Moscow, including for American energy ventures. Russian officials, for their part, touted potential benefits for U.S. companies in the oil and gas sectors, though those promises collide with the broader sanctions architecture that has long defined the U.S.–Russia relationship.
In parallel, a second clash between Trump and Zelenskiy emerged as public rhetoric intensified. While Trump has shown personal admiration for Putin, Zelenskiy has faced sustained pressure and even direct pressure to provide access to incriminating information about American political figures. In public remarks, Zelenskiy framed the peace process as a path forward rather than a gamble, suggesting that negotiations could lead to tangible outcomes.
After a recent call with Trump, Zelenskiy issued a cautious but hopeful note about resuming peace talks, signaling that discussions could begin with practical steps rather than grand promises. This wintry blend of optimism and caution reflects a broader strategic recalibration among Ukraine’s allies as they weigh how to secure guarantees that can withstand future aggression.
Two major stumbling blocks remained. Zelenskiy reportedly rejected a plan laid out to Kiev that would have allowed the United States to oversee a Reconstruction Investment Fund designed to give Washington leverage over Ukraine’s minerals, gas, oil, infrastructure, and ports, all under New York law. The aim would have been to prevent hostile actors from benefiting from Ukraine’s reconstruction. If confirmed, the plan would redefine how reconstruction proceeds and who controls its leverage. (Fuente: El Periódico de España)
On Monday, Zelenskiy canceled his last-minute trip to Riyadh to meet the American delegation and sent a clear message: those who seek peace should come to Kiev. Kyiv’s leadership signaled that it would not entertain talks under the pretense of outside pressure and insisted that any real negotiation must start in Ukraine with Ukrainian participation. Reaction from Washington is expected to follow soon as policymakers deliberate the next steps in this evolving diplomatic drama.