Ukraine Will Participate In Peace Negotiations In Saudi Arabia, But Reluctant To Have A Room With Moscow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere/PHOTO via Instagram @zelenskyy_official

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian experts would attend upcoming talks involving the United States and Russia.

But Ukrainian representatives will not be in the same room as Russia, as diplomatic push to end the war is intensifying.

Russian and US experts will discuss ways to ensure safety of shipments in the Black Sea at talks on a possible settlement of peace in Saudi Arabia on Monday next week.

"There will be a technical team there," Zelenskyy said during a visit to Norway.

"I understand that the structure is as follows, there will be meetings between Ukraine and America and then some diplomacy going back and forth, as our American counterparts, America and Russia say," he told a news conference with the Norwegian prime minister.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv would compile a list of facilities that could be subject to the partial ceasefire brokered by Washington. The list can include not only energy, but also rail and port infrastructure.

Ukrainian leaders spoke on Thursday in Norway, as loyal supporters of Ukraine, a day after their trip to Finland that had the same thoughts.

Zelenskyy seeks to strengthen European support amid dissent among countries in the region on ways to strengthen Kyiv and the EU's own military capabilities.

Previously Zelenskyy urged EU leaders meeting in Brussels to approve a package of at least 5 billion euros for artillery purchases for Ukraine and called for continued pressure on Russia.

The Head of the European Union's Foreign Policy Office of Kallas has reduced proposals to promise up to 40 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine this year, with each country contributing according to its economic size, following opposition from several countries, particularly in southern Europe.

Delivering his speech at the EU summit via video, Zelenskyy said it was "very anti-European when one person blocked an important decision for the entire continent", referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban's opposition to EU statements in support of Ukraine.

Nordic and Baltic countries, including Norway, are on the camp that supports Ukraine more.

Norway, which is not a member of the European Union, said on March 6, it would double its financial support for Kyiv this year to 85 billion crowns ($8.03 billion) from plans approved in November of 35 billion crowns.

The extra support is now being converted into support for artillery ammunition, drone capacity, and also for investment in the Ukrainian industry itself, said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere.