Zelenskyy Affirms Ukraine Will Reject Any Peace Agreement Reached Without Kyiv’s Participation

February 17, 2025 TruthUSA

As preparations for negotiations unfold between Washington and Moscow, Ukraine’s president has declared that his nation will not acknowledge any agreements reached without its participation.

On February 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will reject any peace accords negotiated without Kyiv’s involvement, as high-ranking officials from the U.S. and Russia prepare to convene in Saudi Arabia for discussions aimed at easing tensions and advancing U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to conclude the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

“Ukraine considers any negotiations concerning our country that exclude us to be void of results, and we cannot recognize … any agreements made about us without our consent, and we will not acknowledge such agreements,” Zelenskyy remarked on February 17 during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The Ukrainian president also called for a dedicated European representative to be included in the discussions, stressing that the negotiation process should involve nations that are ready to take on security guarantees, offer assistance, invest in Ukraine’s recovery, and help avert additional Russian aggression.

Zelenskyy’s comments came just before a scheduled meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, focusing on direct talks about ending the war.

Ukraine will not participate in the U.S.–Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, Trump indicated to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on February 16 that Zelenskyy will eventually be part of the discussions.

Trump also mentioned his recent conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing his belief that both Putin and Zelenskyy desire to halt the fighting, stating, “we’re working very hard” to bring an end to the conflict.

Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, retired General Keith Kellogg, supported Trump’s comments on Monday, asserting that no peace deal will be imposed on Ukraine without the agreement of its leadership.

Kellogg, who will not participate in the Saudi talks but plans to meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv later this week, stated to reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels on February 17 that no arrangement would be forced “on an elected leader of a sovereign nation.” When questioned about the possibility of U.S. involvement in providing security guarantees to Ukraine, Kellogg remarked that Trump’s strategy is to “keep all options open.”

This aligns with statements made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who explained at a press conference in Warsaw that while the inclusion of U.S. troops on the ground in Ukraine is unlikely, “the president has discretion on what transpires during those negotiations as he is the representative of the American people globally.”

“He retains the right to consider any option as he discusses troop deployments, partnerships, and investment prospects,” Hegseth added.

Previously, Zelenskyy indicated that U.S. troops should be part of any peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine.

Ahead of his trip to Saudi Arabia for the negotiations, Rubio stated during his appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on February 16 that the objective of the meetings will be to lay the foundation for negotiations that lead to lasting peace.

“President Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin last week, and Vladimir Putin expressed his interest in achieving peace, while the president remarked on his desire to see an end to this conflict in a way that is sustainable and that preserves Ukrainian sovereignty—ensuring we do not face another invasion in the next few years,” Rubio explained.

Much work remains before a resolution can be achieved, and “one phone call does not equate to peace,” Rubio added. He praised Trump’s peace initiative and expressed optimism that the conversations might be fruitful, stressing that the upcoming days and weeks will reveal whether the Kremlin is “serious or not” about ceasing hostilities.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the arrangements for the meeting, informing reporters in Moscow on February 17 that the discussions in Saudi Arabia will concentrate on repairing the tense U.S.–Russia relationship, coordinating a meeting between Trump and Putin, and possibly reaching a settlement regarding the Ukraine war.

Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz conveyed on Fox News on Sunday that four fundamental principles will steer the peace negotiations.

“First, there must be a permanent conclusion to the conflict, not a temporary truce. Second, this cannot be resolved on the battlefield; it has devolved into a World War I-style catastrophe. Third, I emphasized the necessity for a shift in how we structure our aid. Finally, we are discussing future economic integration as the best mediator for peace,” Waltz stated.

Waltz added that the Trump administration is deliberating with Ukraine regarding an economic partnership with the United States, which would compensate taxpayers for the substantial financial assistance provided to Kyiv while ensuring Ukraine’s security.

“I can think of no better security assurance than being co-invested with President Trump,” Waltz commented.

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