On Tuesday, February 18, United States (U.S.) and Russian diplomats—including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov—met in Riyadh to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting resulted in an agreement to restore full diplomatic engagement and form high-level teams to negotiate a peace deal, an outcome that notably sidelines Ukraine and its European allies.

During the meeting, Rubio stated, “For us to continue to move down this road, we need to have diplomatic facilities that are operating and functioning normally.” U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz added, “Just a practical reality is that there is going to be some discussion of territory, and there’s going to be discussion of security guarantees.” In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply remarked, “No decision about Ukraine can be made without Ukraine.” Later, at a meeting with ministers from different European countries, French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said, “There will be no just and lasting peace in Ukraine without the participation of Europeans.”

This agreement marks a significant policy shift away from the long-standing isolationist approach toward Russia. For years, Western nations imposed strict sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, after a high-profile phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Washington signaled a move toward re-engagement with Russia, aiming to restore normal diplomatic channels and explore joint economic and energy ventures. Yet by excluding Ukraine and its key European partners from these initial discussions, the talks risk allowing Moscow to set terms that could compromise Ukrainian sovereignty and weaken the security framework that European nations depend on.

European countries have long relied on a united transatlantic front to deter Russian aggression. If the U.S. negotiates independently with Russia, it could fracture this alliance and leave Europe more vulnerable. Moreover, excluding Ukraine might lead to an agreement that fails to protect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and political independence—key factors for regional stability. Such an outcome could encourage Russia to exert further pressure on Eastern European nations, forcing them to invest more in defense and seek alternative security arrangements.

The current conflict began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, prompting Western nations to mobilize substantial military and economic support for Ukraine while imposing severe sanctions on Moscow. For nearly three years, Ukraine has received assistance from N.A.T.O. countries, the European Union, and the U.S. to repel Russian advances. The recent U.S. pivot represents a dramatic departure from previous isolationist policies. Washington now hopes that re-engaging with Russia can expedite negotiations to end the conflict. However, without the direct involvement of Ukraine and its European partners, the prospects for a balanced, sustainable peace remain uncertain.

Ukraine and its European allies must be brought into the negotiation process for any agreement to be both lasting and fair, and negotiations must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and address broader regional security concerns. The future of regional and global stability depends on balancing immediate conflict resolution with long-term commitments to mutual security and cooperation, and that demands the full participation of all key stakeholders.