WASHINGTON (AP) — The strategy employed by President Donald Trump to resolve Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine has raised concerns among European allies and Ukrainian officials, who fear that they are being excluded from discussions as the U.S. and Russia prepare for direct negotiations.

As the three-year conflict continues, Trump is dispatching Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and special envoy Steve Witkoff to Saudi Arabia for discussions with Russian officials, according to a U.S. source who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the upcoming talks.

It remains uncertain how much representation Ukrainian or European delegates will have in the expected discussions in Riyadh, with the U.S. official characterizing the negotiations as being in their early stages and likely to evolve in terms of participants.

During a conversation with reporters on Sunday, Trump stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “will be involved” in the talks, without providing further details.

This outreach effort follows remarks from key Trump advisors earlier in the week, including Vice President JD Vance, which sparked additional apprehension in Kyiv and other European capitals regarding the potential for a swift resolution to the conflict with minimal European involvement.

“The longstanding relationship between Europe and America is undergoing a transformation,” Zelenskyy remarked during an address at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, emphasizing the need for Europe to adapt to this new dynamic.

In response, White House officials contended that Europe has not been sidelined in the deliberations. Recently, Trump held a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and is anticipated to consult with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer later this week.

Vance, on his trip to Munich and Paris, engaged in discussions with Macron, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and Zelenskyy.

“They may not agree with the sequencing in these negotiations, but I push back against the idea that they haven’t been consulted,” Waltz stated on “Fox News Sunday.” “They absolutely are part of the process, and ultimately, it will be under President Trump’s leadership that we bring an end to this war.”

Currently in Israel before traveling to Saudi Arabia, Rubio explained that the U.S. is meticulously reassessing its approach to Moscow, especially after the Biden administration’s previous restrictions on contact with the Kremlin following the February 2022 invasion.

Last week, Trump talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin, leading to an agreement to initiate high-level discussions aimed at resolving the conflict. Initially characterized as bilateral, Trump later clarified that Ukraine would also participate, though he did not specify when this involvement would occur.

It remains unclear if any representatives from Ukraine will be present at the pending talks in Riyadh. However, Ukraine’s economy minister noted that a delegation from Ukraine is currently in Saudi Arabia to facilitate a potential visit by Zelenskyy.

Starmer, the U.K. premiere, stated in an op-ed for Monday’s Daily Telegraph that Ukraine has to be included in any negotiations regarding its future, asserting that failing to do so would reinforce Putin’s stance that Ukraine is not a legitimate nation.

Starmer also referenced the problematic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan under President Biden, stating, “We cannot repeat a scenario like Afghanistan, where the U.S. conducted negotiations solely with the Taliban while excluding the Afghan government. I trust that President Trump will want to avoid such a mistake.”

Trump expressed his belief that Putin is willing to negotiate, but also pointed out Russia’s historical military successes. “I believe he wants to cease hostilities. They have a significant military capability; they have a history of defeating great powers,” Trump remarked.

Heather Conley, who served as a deputy assistant secretary of state for Central Europe during President George W. Bush’s administration, indicated that Trump’s current stance towards Moscow suggests an effort to forge a new international framework led by major powers. “As in the past, it is for the great powers to determine the fates of nations and to take actions that align with their economic and security interests,” Conley elaborated.

There are differing viewpoints within the administration regarding the evolving strategy toward Moscow, with some officials advocating for a swift rapprochement and others cautioning that Putin may seek to weaken the Euro-Atlantic alliance in his efforts to restore Russia’s influence.

Trump suggested last week that he would welcome Russia’s re-entry into what is now known as the Group of Seven major economies. After being suspended from the G8 following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, he commented, “I believe it was a mistake to expel them. It’s not about liking or disliking Russia; I think Putin would appreciate a return.”

The anticipated discussions in Saudi Arabia occur amid tensions surrounding Trump’s request for Ukraine to consent to U.S. access to its valuable rare earth mineral deposits in return for approximately $66 billion in military assistance provided thus far and additional future support.

Zelenskyy, who met with Vance and other high-ranking U.S. officials in Munich, instructed his minister to hold off on signing the agreement for the time being, expressing in an interview that the proposal seemed overly focused on U.S. interests without offering adequate security guarantees for Ukraine.

The White House termed Zelenskyy’s decision “short-sighted,” arguing that a rare earth agreement would deepen Ukraine’s ties to the U.S., a prospect that does not align with Moscow’s interests.

European officials are also expressing concern over some of Vance’s comments during his recent five-day tour of Paris and Munich, where he addressed issues like free speech and illegal migration and cautioned that failure to shift strategy could undermine public support.

During his time in Munich, Vance also met with Alice Weidel, the co-leader and chancellor candidate of the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party for the upcoming election.

As the Trump administration’s Ukraine strategy unfolds, officials across Europe are reconsidering their approaches.

Macron is set to hold a summit with key European leaders in Paris on Monday to discuss future actions regarding Ukraine, as announced by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Sunday. “A spirit of unity is emerging over Europe, perhaps stronger than we have experienced since the COVID pandemic,” Barrot stated on public radio.

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Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina. Associated Press journalists Darlene Superville in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.