Categories: Russia Ukraine war

Ukraine shut out of its own peace talks – history repeats itself!

Ukraine has been left out of a crucial meeting between American and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week, where the future of peace in the war-torn country is being discussed.

Zelenskyy Rejects Talks Without Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has slammed the move, declaring Ukraine will “never accept” any agreements made without its involvement.

The exclusion raises serious concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach, especially after reports surfaced that he is demanding control over half of Ukraine’s rare mineral wealth as the price for continued American support.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second left, meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, third left, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, left, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, second right, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday Feb. 18, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)

This development echoes a dark history of major world powers redrawing borders and making critical decisions without input from those directly affected.

Historical Precedents: When Great Powers Took Control

Throughout history, dominant nations have imposed decisions on smaller countries without their consent—often with devastating consequences.

  • 1884-85: The Scramble for Africa – European powers divided Africa without African leaders, leading to brutal colonial rule and atrocities, including genocide in present-day Namibia.
  • 1899: The Tripartite Convention – Germany and the U.S. split Samoa, ignoring local wishes, leaving lasting geopolitical divisions.
  • 1916: The Sykes-Picot Agreement – Britain and France secretly carved up the Middle East, betraying promises to Arabs and Jews, fueling conflicts that persist today.
  • 1938: The Munich Agreement – Britain and France appeased Hitler by handing him Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, leading to World War II.
  • 1938: The Évian Conference – 32 countries refused to accept Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany, sealing the fate of many during the Holocaust.
  • 1939: The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact – The USSR and Nazi Germany secretly divided Eastern Europe, paving the way for the invasion of Poland.
  • 1945: The Yalta Conference – The U.S., UK, and USSR decided post-war Europe’s fate, leading to decades of Soviet control over Eastern Europe.

Is History Repeating Itself?

As Washington and Moscow negotiate over Ukraine’s future without Kyiv, fears grow that history is repeating itself. European leaders have voiced alarm, with French President Emmanuel Macron urging that Ukraine’s sovereignty be respected. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials warn that any deal made without them will not be recognized.

With tensions high and history as a warning, the world watches as major powers once again decide the fate of a nation—without its consent.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.

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