EU foreign policy chief to meet US Secretary of State amid concerns over Russia-Ukraine peace

European Union foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas have expressed concerns following the US-Russia talks held in Riyadh on February 18, which excluded Ukraine from the discussions.

Kallas shared her thoughts on the talks via a post on social media platform X, stating, "Russia will try to divide us. Let's not walk into their traps. By working together with the US, we can achieve a just and lasting peace — on Ukraine's terms,” Caliber.As reports per Ukrainian media.

In Brussels, Kallas also revealed that she would be traveling to the United States on February 25 to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions will focus on EU-US relations and the ongoing talks between the US and Russia concerning a resolution to the war in Ukraine. Kallas emphasized, "You can discuss whatever you want with Putin, but if it comes to Ukraine and Europe, then Ukraine and Europe also have to agree to this deal."

The meeting in Riyadh marked the first official talks between US officials and Russian representatives, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and top presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the talks were hailed as a significant step towards potential peace discussions, no concrete decisions emerged from the meeting, and Ukraine’s absence from the talks raised significant alarm in Kyiv and across Europe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been vocal about the exclusion, reiterating that "no decisions about Ukraine's future can be made without Ukraine's participation." His statement reflects the broader concern within Ukraine and its allies that any peace process must fully involve the country to ensure its sovereignty and security.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressing the situation, claimed that the Riyadh talks were merely an exploratory first step and emphasized that Ukraine and Europe would be included in future negotiations once formal discussions begin.

The absence of Ukrainian representatives at the talks has prompted further scrutiny in Europe, with leaders calling for the country’s direct involvement in any peace process that impacts its future. 

By Vafa Guliyeva