On Tuesday, in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, talks will begin on the conflict in Ukraine with representatives of Russia and the United States," says Reuters. The aim of these negotiations is to accomplish a ceasefire before Easter, which falls on April 20 this year. The U.S. President's administration, Donald Trump, seeks to end war operations in Ukraine during the first 100 days of its word of office.
Ambitious ceasefire plans
According to Bloomberg, the Trump administration informed European officials of its intention to accomplish a ceasefire in Ukraine by Easter. However, the pace of these talks raises doubts among European diplomats who fear that the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenski, may be forced to adopt unfavourable conditions if he is not given adequate military support.
Today Volodymyr Zelenski reported that he landed in Saudi Arabia with his wife.
The planned talks in Riyadh according to the global press agencies will be held without the direct participation of representatives of Ukraine and European countries. U.S. peculiar Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg, stated that "Europe will not be straight at the negotiating table on ending the war in Ukraine".
Such a situation raises concerns among European leaders who believe that their participation is crucial for the safety of the continent.
European consequence to exclusion from talks
In consequence to the exclusion from Ukraine negotiations, French president Emmanuel Macron convened an extraordinary summit of European leaders in Paris on Monday. The gathering aims to coordinate Europe's actions towards talks by the United States and Russia and to make a common strategy in the face of increasing concerns about Ukraine's future. Macron has repeatedly stressed that Europe cannot let key decisions on the safety of the continent to be taken without its participation.
The summit will be attended by leaders of the UK, Germany, Poland and another EU countries who fear that talks in Riyadh can lead to an agreement forced in Ukraine without its full consent. European leaders are to discuss possible scenarios and present their Kiev support plan, which may include additional arms supplies and increased backing for Ukraine. 1 of the main themes is besides the future of transatlantic cooperation and NATO's position towards the American initiative.
Macron besides intends to effort to get US president Donald Trump's administration to make negotiations with Russia more transparent. According to diplomatic sources, Paris and Berlin are afraid that a possible ceasefire can be achieved at the expense of the long-term interests of Ukraine and Europe and that a final agreement may not warrant lasting safety in the region. The French president hopes that the Paris summit will strengthen the European position and force Washington to include European capitals in further negotiations.
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Reuters/Bloomberg/PAP/mn
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