Recent US-Russia peace talks have created speculation in Ukraine as no Ukrainian or European official was present in the meeting. However, the US Administration agreed to hold further talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine. In this article, you will learn about the latest US-Russian talks and the possible reasons for conflicts among them.
US-Russia Talks On Ukraine: What We Know So Far
US and Russian officials held a peace talk in Saudi Arabia recently, and the US administration agreed to hold a few more rounds of talks regarding ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The first meeting was held without Ukrainian or European leaders, to which Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, insisted on no agreements without Ukrainian consent. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary Marco Rubio met in Riyadh for face-to-face talks between the two countries. They agreed to start negotiating the end of the war.
Reasons For Conflict Between Ukraine & Russia
Ukraine’s Sovereignty & Territorial Integrity
The current status of Ukraine is the most important point of disagreement. Russia and the US have contrary views on Ukraine’s sovereignty, especially after Russia annexed Crimea. Also, the US and Russia have radically different security interests. While the US focused on defending Ukraine’s democratic choices, Russia is trying to maintain its influence in the region.
Role Of NATO Troops & Their Expansions
The US and NATO allies had helped Ukraine with military and financial support. The Russian officials had made it clear that they did not want the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine. Russia had continuously been on the polar side of the expansion of NATO toward its border because it seemed a national threat to them.
Zelensky’s Position On Agreements & Disagreements
President Zelensky has made it clear that no agreements should be made without Ukraine’s consent. In response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the US has enforced a series of economic sanctions against them. Russia is pushing these sanctions, but the US asked for cooperation with international norms before easing them.
Absence Of Ukrainian & European Officials
The lack of Ukrainian and European leaders in peace talks created frustration, as the conflicts, discussions, and disagreements directly affected these parties.
Also, the historical tension between the US and Russia over issues like arms control and cyber security has created a looming background, especially when it’s a war situation.
Zelensky’s Response To Peace Talk
Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, insisted that they should be present in discussions for any further talks as the war directly affects their country. To protect Ukraine from Russia’s aggression, he would push for strong security measures, probably using NATO’s support. Zelensky wants to clarify Ukraine’s role in the conflict as he would reject all the false claims and allegations that were spread by Russia. However, he might pressurize Russia and ask for continuous support from the US and Europe to ensure that their needs have been met.
Final Word
The US-Russia peace talks have raised concerns in the minds of European and Ukrainian leaders as they were not invited to the discussions despite their interest in the matter. Meanwhile, both nations agreed to hold further talks to end the war in Ukraine. As the conflict continues, the US and Russia will negotiate these complicated issues carefully to reach a lasting solution, with the hope that future talks will bring all relevant parties to the table.
