Trump Suggests Ukraine Could Have Reached a Deal Following US-Russia Talks

   Donald Trump expressed increased confidence in the possibility of reaching a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia after recent talks between the two countries in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine was notably left out.

   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described his exclusion from the discussions as a “surprise,” highlighting the unexpected nature of not being invited to such a critical meeting. The talks, which took place on Tuesday, saw Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Riyadh. This marked the first high-level dialogue between the two nations in a while. The discussions focused on appointing negotiation teams to explore the potential end of the ongoing war.

   In response to Ukraine’s complaints about being excluded, US President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment, suggesting that the country’s grievances were unjustified. Trump also remarked that Ukraine could have potentially reached an agreement earlier in the conflict, hinting that opportunities for a resolution may have been missed in the past.

   This conflict, which has been ongoing for almost three years, began after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invasion followed Russia’s controversial annexation of Crimea in 2014, which escalated tensions between the two countries and led to the war.

   Trump’s comments came in the context of increasing diplomatic efforts, and his suggestion that Ukraine could have secured a deal earlier underscores his broader stance on international diplomacy. While Ukraine has been fighting to maintain its sovereignty, Trump’s remarks reflect his belief that negotiations may have been more successful if pursued differently.