Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, following Russian-American talks in Riyadh, his spokesperson announced on Monday.
"It’s a long-planned official visit," according to spokesperson Sergiy Nykyforov, who did not comment further.
As the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, the American administration under President Donald Trump has promised to end the conflict quickly. Kyiv fears being sidelined in any Washington-Moscow negotiations.
High-level Russian and American officials are set to meet in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday. The Kremlin revealed that these talks aim to "restore" relations between Moscow and Washington and could possibly address the situation in Ukraine.
Russia, which launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, currently occupies around 20% of the country.
No plans to speak to Russia or US
Zelenskyy, who is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday, announced his trip to Riyadh last week but did not specify the dates. He clarified on Friday that he has no plans to meet with Russian or American officials.
In further comments given to Reuters and the Associated Press, Ukraine's president also clarified that he would not accept the result of any peace talks that exclude his country.
Saudi Arabia, which Zelenskyy has visited multiple times since the Russian invasion began, has mediated at least one significant prisoner exchange between Kyiv and Moscow.
The UAE is also very involved in mediating between Russia and Ukraine, participating in prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children to their homeland.
"The return of Ukrainian children was one of the main topics discussed by the Ukrainian president in the UAE," the Ukrainian presidency stated in a press release.
"Twelve prisoner exchanges have already taken place thanks to the mediation of this country," the presidency added. "Ukraine hopes that, in collaboration with the UAE, more Ukrainians can be brought back home."
