As top Russian and US diplomats held a meeting in Saudi Arabia today with an aim to find an agreement to end the years-long war in Ukraine, without the latter. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said that “Kyiv cannot recognise any agreements or things discussed about us without us.”

President Zelensky was supposed to visit Saudi Arabia too – but a day after the crucial meeting between top diplomats from Russia and the United States. However, Zelensky says he has postponed Wednesday’s trip to Saudi Arabia after US-Russia talks.

Earlier, President Zelensky had criticised talks between the US and Russia as the talks were going to happen without Ukrainian participation. Talks “are taking place between representatives of Russia and representatives of the United States of America. About Ukraine — about Ukraine again — and without Ukraine,” Zelensky said in Turkey during an official visit.

At a press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a visit to Ankara, he said, “Ukraine, Europe in a broad sense — and this includes the European Union, Turkey, and the UK — should be involved in conversations and the development of the necessary security guarantees with America regarding the fate of our part of the world.”

Three Americans and two Russians took part in the negotiations and agreed to reset diplomatic relations. 

​Three Americans and two Russians took part in the negotiations and agreed to reset diplomatic relations.  

Gyanesh Kumar will assume the role of Chief Election Commissioner on a day the Supreme Court reviews a law defining his appointment process. This law, passed by the Parliament and objected to by Congress, had replaced the Chief Justice of India with a Union minister in the selection panel, raising concerns about potential government interference.