President Zelensky Reportedly Postponed Visits To Saudi Arabia To Avoid 'Legitimization' Russia-US Meeting

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky postponed his visit to Saudi Arabia not to "legitimize" Russia's meeting with the United States on Tuesday between US and Russian officials in Riyadh, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Speaking on Tuesday in Turkey, President Zelensky said he had postponed his visit to Saudi Arabia which was originally planned for Wednesday, until March 10, saying he did not want "anycoincidentity".

"(Ukraine) doesn't want to be seen giving any legitimacy to anything happening in Riyadh," said one source.

President Zelensky said in Ankara he was not invited to a meeting between the delegation of top US and Russian officials on Tuesday, which was attended by foreign ministers of the two countries. The United States and Russia said after the talks, they had agreed to continue with efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

"We don't want anyone to decide anything behind us No decision can be made without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine," President Zelensky said.

US President Donald Trump, who took office on January 20, has repeatedly promised to end the war soon. He has pushed for the start of immediate peace negotiations.

President Trump made a separate phone call to President Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, raising concerns among Kyiv allies in Europe that they would be set aside from any peace process.