Analysis: There has been no invitation for Ukraine, nor for Europe, to join the talks planned for US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, writes Sam Kiley

Summary

A senior White House team, led by Steve Witkoff and Mike Waltz, is traveling to Saudi Arabia to set up Ukraine peace talks, excluding both Ukraine and Europe from negotiations.

This move raises concerns about sidelining key stakeholders while favoring direct U.S.-Russia discussions. European leaders, including Macron and Starmer, are meeting in Paris to respond.

Trump’s team has hinted at lifting Russian sanctions, a stance welcomed by the Kremlin.

NATO allies are wary of U.S. inquiries on security guarantees for Ukraine, fearing strategic leaks.

  • gsfraley@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16·
    6 days ago

    Wtf are we even doing there? Even if we’re trying to sell out Ukraine, I don’t see much happening without Ukraine at the table. The motivators are going to be sticks and carrots. The best carrot I can see the US getting Ukraine is peace or ceasefire alongside the cessation of some of their land. But that ignores that Russia broached peace agreements twice in this mess. So it’s not possible to trust anything Russia offers (kudos on that 4D chess, Putin, you pathetic slobdog).

    That leaves leaning on the rest of Europe and continuing the resistance as the only viable option. Unless we give them sticks, which would be insane and fully exile the US as a pariah state from the rest of the free world. It would kill trade and drop us into an instant depression. Which they might think they’re fine with, but that’s quite a shortcut to the guillotine.

    • TransplantedSconie@lemm.eeEnglish
      241·
      6 days ago

      The billionaire class are all done with us. They have their private bunkers with hired goons to protect them, and WANT a depression. Chaos, millions killed, bird flu unleashed, all that and more they want so they can carve out kingdoms from the ruined democracies they are targeting. That’s what they want, and Putin is more than happy to help them do it

      • suoko@feddit.itEnglish
        4·
        6 days ago

        I’m waiting for an AI edited version of everyday news where current “people in charge” discuss using wise and sensible words.

        Let’s use modern tools with some grain of salt

          • suoko@feddit.itEnglish
            1·
            5 days ago

            You could still create fake nuclear attacks and sell some useless fallout shelters to some kind of people…

    • badwetter@kbin.melroy.org
      243·
      6 days ago

      What evidence do you have to prove that Russia broke 2 peace agreements? If you’re referring to Minsk 1 and 2 that wasn’t Russia who broke them. It was France and Germany, both leaders of those countries at the time, are on record indicating that The West never intended to honour those agreements. It’s hard to find the evidence in Western media as it’s been scrubbed (this alone should alert folks) but I found a reference in Ukrainian Pravada via Yahoo: https://www.yahoo.com/news/putin-disappointed-merkels-words-minsk-140859136.html

      • Skua@kbin.earth
        12·
        6 days ago
        • France and Germany weren’t even signatories to the treaties save for as members of the OSCE. Their only responsibilities in the treaty were to, as part of OSCE, monitor and verify the ceasefire.
        • Nothing about either treaty says that Ukraine can’t re-arm during the ceasefire, and literally the only thing Merkel said is that Ukraine used the time to re-arm.
        • Minsk I collapsed because nobody even implemented the ceasefire and then Russia launched a new offensive to take Donetsk airport. That is an explicit violation of the treaty, unlike Ukraine re-arming.
        • Minsk II collapsed when Russia launched its 2022 invasion.

        Ukraine preparing for a Russian invasion is not a ceasefire violation. The leader of a country that’s not even a party to the conflict saying that “it’s good that Ukraine prepared” is even more thoroughly not a violation. You know what is a violation? An invasion.