Russia demands territorial concessions from Ukraine ahead of US talks in Saudi Arabia

Ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine will not participate in discussions regarding its future without its involvement. He emphasized that any agreements made without Ukraine's consent would not be recognized. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Moscow's demands for Ukraine to cede five regions and abandon its NATO aspirations. He dismissed calls for European representation in the talks, questioning their role in negotiations. The US delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will discuss potential negotiations on Ukraine. Recent comments from US officials have raised concerns in Kyiv about the terms of any peace deal, particularly regarding territorial integrity and NATO membership.