Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday his country won't accept the outcome if Kyiv doesn't take part.

U.S.-Russia talks would "yield no results" without Ukrainian officials, Zelenskyy said on a conference call with journalists from the United Arab Emirates.

Ahead of the talks, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund who the Kremlin said might join the meeting, underscored the importance of the meeting in comments to The Associated Press.

"Good U.S.-Russia relations are very important for the whole world. Only jointly can Russia and the U.S. address lots of world problems, resolve for global conflicts and offer solutions," Dmitriev, who said he and his team would focus on economic issues at the talks, told AP.

The Saudi-owned satellite channel Al Arabiya, citing the Russian delegation, described Moscow's priority as "real normalization with Washington."

For Saudi Arabia, the talks are a major step toward a goal de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pursued throughout the war — putting the kingdom in the middle of diplomatic negotiations. It has helped in prisoner negotiations and hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit in the kingdom in 2023. Zelenskyy will likely travel to Saudi Arabia later this week.

Adblock test (Why?)