Lavrov Rejects Territorial Concessions Ahead of US-Russia Talks

Ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov firmly rejected any possibility of territorial concessions to Ukraine, asserting that negotiations would focus on restoring Russian-U.S. relations and not on ceding land. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would not participate in the talks, stating that any outcomes would be unacceptable without Ukrainian involvement. Lavrov also expressed skepticism about the role of European nations in the negotiations, suggesting they had no place at the table if they were simply going to propose ideas to freeze the conflict. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have indicated that Zelensky's participation in future discussions remains uncertain. The backdrop to these negotiations includes Russia's claim of annexing several Ukrainian regions, which the international community widely deems illegal. As the diplomatic landscape unfolds, the lack of Ukrainian representation raises concerns about the legitimacy and effectiveness of any agreements reached.