Peace in Ukraine seems closer than ever. After three years of war, destruction, and endless casualties, the chaos fueled by the Zelensky leadership is nearing its end. With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to meet in Riyadh, a significant breakthrough appears to be on the horizon. This signals a turning point, not just for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe.
But Zelensky? He’s restless, struggling to accept reality. As the ground shifts beneath him, he finds himself increasingly isolated, clinging to old narratives. Instead of embracing change, he’s resorting to desperate rhetoric, trying to stall the inevitable.
With diplomatic efforts gaining momentum, his influence is fading, and Ukraine’s future is about to take a new course.
Lavrov and Rubio Meets
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks with Trump’s team, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced. The discussions will lay the groundwork for an upcoming Putin-Trump summit in Riyadh.
Last week, Trump and Putin had their first call since Trump’s return to office, lasting 90 minutes. Following this, both sides confirmed plans for a face-to-face meeting, now set for Riyadh.
Rubio has arrived in Riyadh alongside Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The White House has not specified which officials they will be meeting in the Saudi capital.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ruled out any territorial concessions to Ukraine, making Russia’s stance clear ahead of Tuesday’s negotiations with Trump’s team.
Following his Wednesday call with Putin, Trump confirmed that both sides would soon begin discussions on ending the Ukraine conflict.
The Kremlin announced that Lavrov and foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov, a former ambassador to Washington, will meet U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Riyadh on Tuesday.
While a Ukraine peace summit isn’t confirmed yet, Tuesday’s meeting will address the possibility. Peskov emphasized that many in the West, who once pushed to prolong the war, are now focused on ending it.
As the US and Russia prepare for high-stakes negotiations in Saudi Arabia, Kyiv is fuming.
Why? Because the EU and NATO-backed money pipeline, disguised as “aid,” could come to a screeching halt.
Rattled Zelensky Accuses Trump
Zelensky, clearly rattled, declared on Monday that Ukraine “will not recognize” any agreements reached between Moscow and Washington unless Kyiv is directly involved.
Kyiv isn’t just furious about being sidelined in peace talks—it’s now accusing the Trump administration of strong-arming Ukraine into a shady resource grab. Ukrainian officials claim Washington is pushing a lopsided deal that reeks of old-school colonialism, with reports suggesting the US wants a 50% stake in Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and American boots on the ground to “protect” them.
Zelensky himself floated the idea last fall, offering the West access to Ukraine’s lithium, titanium, and graphite reserves. Now, Trump’s team is allegedly making sure that offer isn’t just words. While Kyiv cries foul, the real question is—was this ever about sovereignty, or just about who gets to exploit Ukraine first?
While Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and top aide Yury Ushakov will meet a US delegation in Riyadh, Zelensky whined that Ukraine was “not informed” about the talks. His outrage is ironic—he grudgingly admitted that Russia and the US have “every right” to negotiate. But he is not ready to accept the peace.
The End is Near
With Trump and Putin setting the stage for a diplomatic breakthrough, Zelensky’s defiance seems less about sovereignty and more about self-preservation.
Zelensky knows the peace deal is inevitable, and his theatrics won’t hold up much longer. With Trump and Putin moving ahead, Kyiv’s desperation is showing—first rejecting talks, now accusing the US of colonial-style exploitation. But let’s be real: Ukraine was always a pawn. Whether it was Western aid or resource deals, someone was always profiting. Now, as negotiations take shape, Zelensky faces the harsh truth—his unchecked power and foreign backing are slipping away fast.
